(Glenwood) — Age requirements could create additional hurdles for Mills County representation on some boards and commissions.

That’s according to a discussion earlier this week at the county’s regular Board of Supervisors meeting between board members and Supervisor-elect Jack Sayers, spearheaded by the Golden Hills RC&D Board of Directors . Supervisor Carol Vinton, whose term ends at the end of this year, has served on the board for eight years, noting that last week the Golden Hills board voted not to amend its bylaws which requires board members to be at least 21 years old. Reading a letter from Cass County Supervisor and Golden Hills Board Chairman Steve Baier, Supervisors Chairman Richard Crouch said he asked the board to consider reappointing Vinton to the board as they deal with turnover in staff and other board members.

“‘As Chairman of the Golden Hills Board of Trustees, I would truly appreciate it if the Mills County Board of Supervisors would seek to reappoint Carol Vinton as the Mills County representative to the Golden Hills Board of Trustees.’ ” Crouch said. “’Our bylaws allow a non-supervisor to represent the Board of Supervisors and you can expect her to provide you with valuable updates and other reports on projects undertaken by Golden Hills.’”

The issue arises because Sayers, a 2024 graduate of East Mills High School and elected to the Board of Supervisors last month, is under 21 years old. While acknowledging that a new member, whether by election or to fill a vacancy, typically assumes the duties of the previous supervisory board, Sayers encouraged the county to better understand why some boards require members to be aged 21 years old and the need to appoint someone other than a supervisor.

“We need to make sure we have accurate reasoning as to why Golden Hills says someone has to be 21,” Sayers said. “Because, in my opinion, they can’t just say no to someone under 21 to try to honestly prepare (Carol) for her appointment. I don’t think that’s enough. They have to have a reason behind them (required age of 21).”

In speaking with other voters and county employees, Sayers said many believe Vinton should not represent the county after losing in the Republican primary earlier this year.

“There are many, many members in this courthouse as well as throughout the county who are employed and I’ll be honest, Carol, who do not want you to be appointed to any county board or county branch.” , he said. “The reason being that you lost the election and therefore they believe you should no longer represent Mills County in any capacity. I think that’s a fair assessment.”

Sayers also noted that supervisors have the right to choose who represents them on each board or commission, which must be “respected” by the agency or entity involved. However, Crouch notes that other boards have expressed similar concerns, adding that they must respect other entities’ bylaws that supervisors do not set.

“They still have reservations about having an 18-year-old sitting on the board and making decisions for multiple counties and multiple people,” Crouch said. “Their biggest problem is (Sayers is) pretty young and I’m trying to be nice about it and I won’t say what some of them said, but it could cause us a lot of problems in terms of reorganization here. on different tables.”

Sayers noted that it would likely not go down well with the general public to see someone elected to represent the county not be allowed to vote on other boards and commissions. While saying he does not need to be appointed to the Golden Hills board, Sayers urged the county to appoint a supervisor for as many committees and boards as possible, including in Golden Hills.