WILMINGTON — Patrick Haley will be president of the Clinton County commissioners in 2018, which also is his last year on the county government body.
Keeping with the tradition of rotating the presidency, Haley succeeds Commissioner Kerry R. Steed who occupied the post in 2017. Brenda K. Woods, now in her second year as a county commissioner, was selected vice president in Monday’s re-organizational voting.
The president of the commissioners presides over the commissioners’ business sessions on Monday and Wednesday mornings at the courthouse.
Haley announced last October he would not seek re-election to a third term as commissioner, citing almost 50 years in public service and a desire to spend more time with his family.
After the gavel was handed over to him, Haley asked whether there was anything commissioners wanted to do differently. He said he really likes the recent practice of commissioners frequently revisiting “old business” — that is, matters or issues that have not been resolved in some manner.
“Many things have kind of hung out there for quite a while, and I think it’s a good idea that we can move on, as quickly as we can, with deliberation and adequate thought,” said Haley.
He added it is a good thing, when able, to get county business done in an expedited manner.
In other re-organization action Monday, commissioners designated who among them will serve on various boards during 2018. All three commissioners were designated to serve on the County Investment Committee.
Woods was designated to be on the Health Department Advisory Board, to be the designee for the Clinton County Emergency Management Agency and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, to serve on the Clinton County Sewer Board, serve on the board of the local Land Bank, and for the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Haley was appointed to the Board of Revisions, to execute Farm Service Agency documents, was designated to serve on the Family & Children First Board, serve on the Local Corrections Advisory Board, serve on the Courthouse Security Committee, for the Ohio Public Works Commission, and representative to the County Commissioners Association of Ohio.
Steed was designated to serve as the Solid Waste District chairman, to serve on the Microfilming Board, on the Records Commission, to represent commissioners at the Port Authority monthly meetings, be on the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission, and on the board of the local Land Bank.
Permit to march
In another matter, commissioners granted a permit to the local group ACT — Alliance for Compassion and Truth — to hold a march on courthouse grounds from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. The march is in support of the national Sister Marches, said courthouse permit applicant Terri Thobaben.
She described the Wilmington activity as an event for women’s rights and justice for all, and “to keep things front and center.”
The permit application states about 75 people are expected to take part.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
