When the Rio Verde Fire District Board of Directors experienced a vacancy recently, Board Chairman Birdie Pasenelli tapped a neighbor to see whether she was interested in applying for the position.

Jeanne Finney, a retired physician, said Pasenelli thought she would be a good fit for the job and the board agreed, appointing her to replace the retiring Dr. Neal Vanselow.

Finney said she decided to accept the appointment because she and her husband, Nigel, wanted to be involved and help out in the community.

He serves as a member of the Tonto Verde homeowners’ board.

Finney grew up in Minnesota and was part of a private medical practice with four other women, she retired when her husband did and they came to Rio Verde in 2008.

She was no stranger to the community, however. Her parents had retired to Rio Verde in the early days and she had been coming here to visit for more than 30 years.

Although she has only been a member of the board for a couple of weeks, Finney said she is working to get up to speed on Fire District issues.

“Chief (Gary) Bradbury and everyone has been very helpful and supportive,” Finney said. “We are just getting started.”

Finney said she has been assigned to work on the strategic planning committee for the district, which will meet in a couple of weeks.

“The region is growing and (the district) needs to learn and decide how to adapt to the growing needs of the community,” Finney said.