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Current Marion County Board meets for the final time, new board to be sworn in December fifth

By WJBD Staff Nov 23, 2022 | 8:37 AM
Board Vice-Chair and Finance Committee Chair Dr. Creighton Engel and Board Chair Debbie Smith. Photo by Bruce Kropp.

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.