The Tuesday night meeting was the final one for the current Marion County Board.
As the meeting came to a close, Board Chair Debbie Smith took time to reflect back on their work.
“It’s going to be a whole new board. We don’t know what direction they will go in but we hope they are as good as this board. Although I don’t think any board could be better than this. I want to thank you for your service, your time, remarks, comments and input. It meant a lot. Thank you.”
Board Vice Chair Dr. Creighton Engel is pleased with the better employee relations, pointing to the sheriff’s department in particular.
“I can feel it, I think you can feel it even before words were said. It was a different atmosphere. And there was nothing back and forth. I think that is really the thing, the board felt it and it was reciprocal and I think that’s why it worked.”
Four members will not be back. Angie Heistand, Jim Purcell, and Judy Shaffer did not seek re-election and Wes Gozia was defeated in a contested Republican primary.
With the US Census changes, the entire 15 member board will be sworn in for new terms at a special meeting that has been called for December 5th at 7 pm. The swearing in will be held in the large third story courtroom.
