Leaders receive send off
The public meeting room at the Butler County government center was filled Thursday with well-wishers saying goodbye to the three county commissioners.
Commissioners Bill McCarrier, Dale Pinkerton and Jim Eckstein will leave office at the end of the month. They will be replaced by Leslie Osche, Kim Geyer and Kevin Boozel.
Bruce Mazzoni, a Cranberry Township supervisor, said all three commissioners worked hard. He said he knows McCarrier and Pinkerton well, and he said he believed Eckstein's intentions always were sincere.
He said the incoming commissioners will do a good job.
“I think the change that is going to happen is going to be a positive one,” Mazzoni said.
John Haven, a Buffalo Township supervisor, offered kudos to the commissioners.
“I think they did an admirable job,” Haven said.
He said it will be interesting to see the incoming commissioners settle in, noting it can be difficult to get started with an entirely new group.“It's sort of tough on the new guys,” Haven said.Ron Fodor, Slippery Rock mayor and manager of the county conservation district, said he will miss them, having known all of them before they were in office. He said never had any conflicts with them.“They've always treated me very well,” Fodor said.As for the new commissioners, he said they are likable and fair.“I like them all,” Fodor said.Allegheny Township Supervisor Chuck Stowe, who is president of the Butler County Association of Township Officials and is on the conservation district board, said the current commissioners always were supportive.He said he is looking forward to working with the new ones and teaching them about what the conservation district does.“We're a little different than most county departments,” Stowe said.
Sheriff Mike Slupe said he appreciated working with the commissioners, and he appreciated the work they did to help the county.“I wish them well in their futures,” Slupe said.County Treasurer Diane Marburger said she worked well with the commissioners.“The board always treated me with respect,” Marburger said.She said she is excited to work with the new commissioners and try new things with them.“I have a few ideas. We perhaps could communicate with the public a little differently,” Marburger said.Sarah Edwards, who will take over as register of wills/clerk of orphan's court in January, also had praise for the outgoing officials.“I think they have all done wonderful jobs, under the circumstances,” Edwards said.She, too, is excited to see Osche, Geyer and Boozel take office in January.“I know all three personally, and I know they will work well together and accomplish great things,” Edwards said.
