Kirby reflects on a decade on the Stafford Planning Commission

By JODI BIZAR

Date published: 7/7/2004

Several years ago Barbara Kirby, 70, was supposed to retire. She was going to spend more time with her family, dust off the oil paints and get to work on that. She also was going to dedicate herself to historical research.

But somehow it didn't work out that way.

Kirby, who had been an active participant in Stafford County government for some time, became a member of the Planning Commission, and hopes of spending more time with her family and her other interests went back up into the theoretical attic.

She gives the commission as much as 40 hours a week, getting calls at home about projects and hopping into her car at all hours to see firsthand where new development is going to go.

Often she remembers the paints, the kids and the grand kids, but she also remembers something someone once told her: "If you're ever in a position to give something back to the community, you should do it."

So she does.

Kirby was born in Oklahoma City, but moved to Stafford with her husband and three children in 1988. She doesn't plan to leave.

"This is one of the most beautiful counties, and I've met some of the most fabulous people," she says.

Kirby was a homemaker and a researcher for most of her adult life. But problems she saw within her community nagged at her, so she made it a point to attend government meetings and see what could be done to make things better.

"I kept bugging them, and I think they just gave me a job to shut me up," she says, laughing.

Kirby was appointed to the commission 12 years ago.

Recently she agreed to give an interview to The Free Lance-Star about what she's observed. Here are some excerpts from that interview.

QWhy do you stay on the Planning Commission?

ADarned if I know. They tell me: 'You can't leave. You're the one that takes care of the cemeteries, the historic stuff.' I guess I want to protect the county. This is a beautiful county. I have met some fantastic people.

QWhat were the big issues when you first started on the commission?

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Date published: 7/7/2004