New county commissioner to be sworn in
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on December 5, 2004 2:03 AM
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will swear in a new member Monday and elect officers for the next year.
At 9 a.m., the commissioners will take their oath of office for the next four years. Roland "Bud" Gray, a Democrat, joins the board as the new District 5 commissioner, replacing Arnold Flowers, a Republican.
The other six commissioners are returning, which will make for a 5-2 Democrat majority.
They are Atlas Price, at-large, Democrat; Andy Anderson, District 1, Republican; J.D. Evans, District 2, Democrat; John M. Bell, District 3, Democrat; Efton Sager, District 4, Republican; and Jack Best, District 6, Republican.
The board will also choose a chairman and vice chairman for the next year. Evans and Price have served in those offices since April, when former Chairman Ken Gerrard resigned. Evans hasn't said yet whether he wants a full term as chairman.
In recent years, Republican commissioners have tried to have one of their own elected as vice chairman, but that will be less of an issue now that the number of Republicans on the board has dropped from three to two.
Also Monday, the board will review six bids for the construction of a parking lot for the Jeffreys Building. The lot will be located on vacant property on John Street next to the former Federal Building.
At the end of the meeting, the commissioners will tour county properties.
The commissioners will convene at 8 a.m. Monday for a briefing on the agenda. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room, fourth floor, Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 E. Walnut St.
The county board is meeting a day earlier than usual because state law requires commissioners be sworn into office by Monday. The commissioners typically meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month.