Heaton: It has been my distinct pleasure and honor to serve as your county commissioner the past four years

Heaton: It has been my distinct pleasure

and honor to serve as your 

county commissioner the past four years

 

Outgoing Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton submitted the following letter to Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst prior to their Dec. 29 board meeting

To the Board of Highland County Commissioners,

I will be ending my term of office soon, and there are several individuals I want to acknowledge. I chose letter form, for I fear my emotions would overcome me if spoken in session.

Elected in November 2006 to start a term in 2007, I was entering a new environment and creating one for the commissioner office already in place. 

Rich Graves, Mike Rector, Rosalind Newman, Debbie Sansone, and Stephanie Seeling taught me what was expected and how to execute the duties of the office. Despite my deficiencies in technology, they guided me through the maze, with extreme patience, I might add, of paperwork and meetings that come with the office. In the end, I think I may have surprised them with some of my computer skills! Thanks to all of you.

The present board of Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst and myself formed an excellent foundation of cooperation in a short time frame so we could move the county out of the economic disaster presented to our board at the start of 2009. Did we agree on everything? No, but we found an avenue to reconcile those differences.

The county was on the brink of a situation that could have been catastrophic. No board in anyone's recent memory faced the problems our board did. Our board made difficult decisions to keep our county viable, and now because of those efforts, the county has a stable foundation going into 2011. My intent was to build from this foundation so the county would be able to weather future problems. The majority of voters in our county wanted a chance. I understand the situation, but I am disappointed. Thank you, Shane and Tom, for all your efforts in making our office one of cooperation, not one of division.

To the residents of Highland County, it has been my distinct pleasure and honor to serve as your county commissioner the past four years.

Thank you for the opportunity. I attempted to represent you with dignity and honor wherever the travels of the office took me. I take only positive energy away with me as I leave office.

To my family, thank you for letting me follow my passion to serve. My family has shared me through all these years as I have served my country, my state, my county, and my local community. It has not been easy for them or for me.

My public service schedule was a disruption and a distraction that took me away from far too many family events, even though I attempted to be there for parts of the events. It was difficult for my family, but heart-wrenching for me. My wife Edith has been the foundation from which I was able to accomplish whatever challenge I tackled; explained why Dad or Grandpa could not be there, but wanted to be there so much; and provided so many other acts of support too numerous to recount.

There are not enough words to describe my gratitude and love I have for my wife and my family. I owe them a debt I can never repay.

In closing, I will be moving on from this office. I will be taking some time off to attempt to make up for time missed with my family; so much happens in time that slips by much too fast. I will stay involved. I will never forget the experience. As Gus said to Call in "Lonesome Dove:" "It's been one heck of a ride."

Sincerely, your friend,

Gary Heaton

Highland County Commissioner, 2007-2010

Outgoing Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton submitted the following letter to Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst prior to their Dec. 29 board meeting:

I will be ending my term of office soon, and there are several individuals I want to acknowledge. I chose letter form, for I fear my emotions would overcome me if spoken in session.

Elected in November 2006 to start a term in 2007, I was entering a new environment and creating one for the commissioner office already in place. 

Rich Graves, Mike Rector, Rosalind Newman, Debbie Sansone, and Stephanie Seeling taught me what was expected and how to execute the duties of the office. Despite my deficiencies in technology, they guided me through the maze, with extreme patience, I might add, of paperwork and meetings that come with the office. In the end, I think I may have surprised them with some of my computer skills! Thanks to all of you.

The present board of Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst and myself formed an excellent foundation of cooperation in a short time frame so we could move the county out of the economic disaster presented to our board at the start of 2009. Did we agree on everything? No, but we found an avenue to reconcile those differences.

The county was on the brink of a situation that could have been catastrophic. No board in anyone's recent memory faced the problems our board did. Our board made difficult decisions to keep our county viable, and now because of those efforts, the county has a stable foundation going into 2011. My intent was to build from this foundation so the county would be able to weather future problems. The majority of voters in our county wanted a change. I understand the situation, but I am disappointed. Thank you, Shane and Tom, for all your efforts in making our office one of cooperation, not one of division.

To the residents of Highland County, it has been my distinct pleasure and honor to serve as your county commissioner the past four years.

Thank you for the opportunity. I attempted to represent you with dignity and honor wherever the travels of the office took me. I take only positive energy away with me as I leave office.

To my family, thank you for letting me follow my passion to serve. My family has shared me through all these years as I have served my country, my state, my county, and my local community. It has not been easy for them or for me.

My public service schedule was a disruption and a distraction that took me away from far too many family events, even though I attempted to be there for parts of the events. It was difficult for my family, but heart-wrenching for me. My wife Edith has been the foundation from which I was able to accomplish whatever challenge I tackled; explained why Dad or Grandpa could not be there, but wanted to be there so much; and provided so many other acts of support too numerous to recount.

There are not enough words to describe my gratitude and love I have for my wife and my family. I owe them a debt I can never repay.

In closing, I will be moving on from this office. I will be taking some time off to attempt to make up for time missed with my family; so much happens in time that slips by much too fast. I will stay involved. I will never forget the experience. As Gus said to Call in "Lonesome Dove:" "It's been one heck of a ride."