Pierce County is accepting applications for three citizens to serve on the governing board of the Pierce County Regional Support Network. The citizen members would join Councilmembers Tim Farrell, Barbara Gelman and Dick Muri and County Executive John Ladenburg, Chief of Staff Lyle Quasim and Budget and Finance Director Patrick Kenney.

The newly created board sets policy, provides financial oversight and administers $55 million in annual state and federal funding for local public mental health services. Issues the board will consider include the allocation of funds for inpatient care and outpatient services, including community services for qualifying children and adults, crisis response, residential support, and services for special populations.

The three councilmembers and three executive members already appointed to board positions will select the three at-large members. Their evaluation will consider knowledge or experience in mental health services, budgeting and accounting, law, and other skills that would be assets to the board. Terms are four years, except the initial appointments are staggered for two, three, or four years.

Applicants must live within Pierce County , be free from any conflict of interest, and have time to commit to a significant workload. For 2006 the board is likely to meet at least twice a month and may also have busy subcommittees. Meetings will be open to the public and televised.

An application and the associated ordinance are available at (253) 798-7477 or http://www.piercecountywa.org/rsn .

The application period closes June 7. The interview process and selection of the three board members is scheduled to be completed by June 21.