By: James Joerke, Cook County Administrator

Local government is not and should not be a spectator sport. The more engaged residents are in influencing local decision-making, the more likely it is that decisions made by local governing bodies will reflect the will of the community. There are plenty of opportunities for residents to become directly involved in Cook County boards and committees that advise and make recommendations to administration and the Board of Commissioners.

Before getting into the details of some of those opportunities, I want to acknowledge that serving on a board or committee requires a commitment of time. The amount of time required varies by committee and the flow of work throughout the year. Many of us feel overwhelmed by all the commitments we already have, and the idea of taking on one more may be too much to contemplate. This is one of the key reasons that it can be difficult to find people to serve on a board or committee. If you are someone whose calendar is already packed and precludes any consideration of taking on another responsibility, that is okay. This is a no-shame zone.

On the other hand, if the idea of learning more about local government processes and influencing policymakers sounds appealing, there are many ways to become involved. Most of the committees listed below are advisory in nature, meaning that they provide information and recommendations to staff and the County Board but do not have any decision-making authority themselves. Despite this, the advisory committees are very influential because their members frequently have professional experience that is directly related to their committee’s area of focus. I have been in many advisory committee meetings in which a member posed a question or suggested a solution that the group and County staff would not have considered otherwise. Advisory committees are not just window dressing; they truly help County staff do their jobs better and help the County Board make better decisions.

A list of all County boards and committees is available at https://cocookmn.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx. Committees that have vacancies have an “apply” button that links to a form that you can use to indicate your interest in serving. Appointments are made by the County Board, and terms vary according to each committee’s bylaws. Below are brief descriptions of some key County boards and committees and the role that they play in decision making processes.

Public Health and Human Services (PHHS):  There are several committees that oversee the work of and advise PHHS. The Public Health and Human Services Board consists of the five county commissioners and the chairs of the PHHS Advisory Council and the Local Mental Health Advisory Council. The PHHS and Mental Health Advisory Councils focus on increasing access to public and mental health resources for the whole community. They provide input on existing initiatives, suggest changes to improve service delivery, and help the County build partnerships with other organizations focused on physical and mental health. The committees also make funding recommendations to the board regarding discretionary grants to community partners to expand the reach of the County’s health and human service programming. Meeting materials and links to join virtual meetings are available from the county website.

Budget and Facilities Advisory Committee:  This five-member committee advises the staff and board on the development and execution of the County budget. Its duties include advising the board on budget priorities; soliciting, reviewing and recommending community organization grants for County funding; and providing input on investments related to County buildings. This committee was instrumental in selecting a consultant to lead the development of the County’s new Capital Improvement Plan.

Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment: The Planning Commission considers requests for conditional and interim use permits for land uses that may need to be limited in terms of number, location and activity. This committee reviews permit applications to determine if a proposed use should be allowed and makes a recommendation to the County Board to approve or deny the permit. The Board of Adjustment considers requests for variances to established zoning ordinances regarding setbacks, acreage requirements, and other parameters related to how and where structures can be built.

Highway Advisory Committee:  The Highway Advisory Committee meets monthly to receive information and provide input on current and planned County road maintenance and improvement projects. The goal of the committee is to increase transparency and improve communication between the Highway Department and Cook County residents.  Many of its members have backgrounds in road and building construction, but this is not a prerequisite for participation.

These are just a few examples of the committees and boards on which residents can serve. Other committees focus on aviation, invasive species, housing, the Community Center and Extension. If you would like more information about serving on a County board or committee, please call 218-387-3602.

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service.