Longshaw, Thomas complete terms
By KATIE MATZ, Times Leader Staff WriterST. CLAIRSVILLE - Tuesday morning's regular meeting of the Belmont County commissioners brought several farewells to Gordie Longshaw and Mark Thomas, as it marked their last official meeting as commissioners.
With 2009 just around the corner, Longshaw and Thomas will leave their posts after many years in office.
"I think for me personally, my biggest disappointment (as a commissioner) is a blanket disappointment in the fact that the job has so many demands that there were a number of projects out there that got started but weren't able to be finished under my term in this seat for the taxpayers of this county," Thomas said. "I think my biggest disappointment is lumped in that whole category of just simply not being able to get everything done. ... The demands of the job are a lot greater than the average person recognizes."
However, Thomas said at the end of the day, his greatest accomplishment as county commissioner was being able to keep the budget in line.
"The biggest thing tied into that is to have our Moody's A3 rating ... to go to New York City three years ago and make a presentation about the state of the county to Moody's Financial Services and have a county of our size get an A3 rating, which we still have today ... to be able to keep our budget in check and to have that A3 rating, which many counties 50 times our size would love to have," he said. "That's probably my proudest accomplishment."
Longshaw, on the other hand, said his biggest regret was not doing anything to the old jail adjacent to the courthouse and not being able to address the Western Court matter, but he said he was glad that the Eastern Divison Court building is coming along.
"It's a full-time job, and it's a commitment, and I feel that Mark and I have done a good job," Longshaw said.
Chuck Probst, vice president of the board of commissioners, will remain on the board, and his first concern for 2009 is to create jobs.
"The No. 1 priority is jobs so people can earn a livable wage ... When we have jobs, our economy will continue to grow here in Belmont County, and that's the No. 1 goal," Probst said. "But sitting on the board with Gordie and Mark has just been a pleasure - you know, we're three different personalities but we're so much of the same too, because the same thing we all agree on is doing what's best for our residents here in Belmont County - to help them in any way we can and protect them in any way we can. I commend Mark and Gordie for staying here right to the end and putting in every ounce of energy they have and doing what's best for the citizens of Belmont County."
Members of the Agriculture Society, the Port Authority, the Soil and Water District, the EMA and the Water and Sewer Department, along with administrators from surrounding villages and townships came to express their gratitude toward the two commissioners.
Thomas thanked everyone who came out to show their appreciation through comments, and said, "I'm eternally grateful, but we just did our job ... It's all about teamwork - it gives me great pride to see that it's not just the three of us sitting up here.
"All I want to say is that it has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Belmont County. I've done the best I've possibly could, I think, and I'm very proud of my eight years. I thank all the residents of Belmont County for giving me the opportunity - it's been wonderful," Thomas concluded.
Thomas' final remarks were echoed by Longshaw, as he also announced how proud he was of his four years on the board.
"When you come to work, and you want to be there, and you don't want to leave, you're doing what you like doing. It's been an adventure and I've been blessed to serve with great people who made it great," Longshaw said.
In other matters Tuesday, the board:
Gave Mark Espisito, director of the Sanitary Sewer District, approval for a new sewage removal pump, called an E1 Grinder Pump. The pump will overcome pressure as well as help residents along U.S. 40 who are having septic tank troubles.
Introduced and accepted CCAO representatives Cheryl Subler, managing director, policy, and Beth Tsvetkoff, policy analyst, from the Department of Job and Family Services into Belmont County.
Moved to adopt a resolution in support of keeping the First Energy Burger Plant open in Shadyside. The motion was adopted unanimously by the board with the three commissioners noting that it was "imperative to take some public action on behalf of the employees and administration of Burger Plant, the village of Shadyside and the Shadyside Local School District."
Matz may be reached at kmatz@timesleaderonline.com
