Shaffer attends final board meeting

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
The Highland County Board of Commissioners held its final meeting of 2014 Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst wished outgoing commission vice president Jeremy Shaffer well as he begins a new chapter in his public service career.
Shaffer, 34, who has served as county commissioner from 2011-14, has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and will be completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
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Prior to serving as a county commissioner, Shaffer was the mayor of Lynchburg and also has served as a Dodson Township trustee.
"I have 14 years in public office and I'm 34 years old," Shaffer said at Wednesday's meeting. "It has been interesting."
During the meeting, Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera presented a plaque to Shaffer in recognition of his service to the county.
The Highland County Senior Citizens Center catered a breakfast for county employees who stopped by to say goodbye to Shaffer.
Shaffer was elected in the 2010 general election and was sworn into office by his father, Roger Shaffer, who was the president of the Lynchburg Village Council.
Shaffer opted not to run for re-election in 2014.
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• In other business, Wilkin announced that the county enters 2015 with a carryover balance of $414,525.64.
"We would like it to be about twice this much, but it's not bad," Wilkin said. "It has been worse."
"Yes, it has," Horst said.
"As far as the (2015) budget, I don't think we'll have any major issues," Wilkin said. "Due to the frugalness of the department heads, it wasn't a terrible process. Hopefully, everyone will maintain (their budgets).
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Commissioners to hold
organizational meeting Jan. 12
Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan will meet on Monday, Jan. 12 at 8:30 a.m. for their annual organizational meeting.