Kootenai County residents with a little extra time and a lot of interest in community activism have an opportunity to give back.

The county seeks volunteers to serve on 10 advisory boards that help guide commissioners on issues ranging from aquifer protection and airport growth to noxious weed abatement and waterway management.

Commissioners are looking for people with select and even professional expertise. They want volunteers with knowledge that exceeds their own.

“The people on these boards have intimate knowledge in the areas they are serving whereas we may not,” Commissioner Leslie Duncan said. “As the decision makers, it’s very important to have citizens who are passionate about the board they sit on to advise commissioners.”

Duncan, who served on the Aquifer Protection District board before her election, said the knowledge she gained was helpful in her current job.

“I served as chair of the board. To be able to run meetings and understand the county budget process made a big difference,” she said.

Commissioner Bill Brooks said commissioners, who screen each applicant, desire specific experience that relates directly to the board for which the volunteers apply.

Commissioners, Brooks said, “are three CEOs of whatever professional background the people who elected us chose. We can’t know everything there is to know. The people on these advisory boards can really delve into the nitty gritty and come back with recommendations that are going to make county government better.”

The deadline to apply for county boards is today at 5 p.m. County Communications Manager Nancy Jones said applications were always accepted and would be considered for current openings.

Ten advisory boards serve the county: Airport Board, Aquifer Protection District, Board of Community Guardians, Fair Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Natural Resource Board, Noxious Weeds Board, Waterways Board, Planning & Zoning, and Snow Groomers Board.

To apply visit kcgov.us and go to the County Commissioners page, then click on Advisory Boards.