When the Barton Community College trustees meet in a special meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, they will pick one of seven applicants to take the place of the late Bob Mead.

“We’re kind of in uncharted waters here,” Board of Trustees Chairman Mike Johnson said during the Trustees’ monthly study session Tuesday afternoon at BCC. The body has filled vacancies left following the resignations of Paul Maneth and John Mosier, but in those cases, there were only a few candidates.

But, this time, there are several. Those on the list include Mary Ann Boyle, Gary Burke, Robert Dunovan, Jeffery Johnson, Brock McPherson, Tricia Reiser and Dwight Young. 

“We have some good applicants,” Johnson said. “It will be a tough decision.”  

All of the candidates are invited to the special meeting to introduce themselves and make comments, but in the interest of fairness should they not all attend, they will not be questioned by the board. The application packets provided information about the board and its meeting schedule, and included a detailed questionnaire. 

Approval of a replacement requires a majority vote, in this case three trustees. Johnson suggested board members come to the meeting prepared and have their top three candidates in mind to expedite the proceedings.

Whoever is selected will be sworn in the month following the selection. The new trustee will serve out the existing term.

A Pawnee Rock Resident and former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Mead was elected in April to fill one of three four-year terms, and would have been sworn in at a July meeting. However, he died on May 4.