Steuben County Council elects officers, approves 2019 departmental liaisons

The Steuben County Council convened its 2019 organizational meeting on Jan. 9 and elected its officers and departmental liaisons for the year. President Richard Shipe presided. Ruth Beer nominated Shipe for council president and Linda Hansen seconded; the motion carried with five ayes and Shipe abstaining. Hansen then nominated Beer for vice president; that motion carried with five ayes and Beer abstained.

The council approved the 2019 departmental liaison assignments listing which members will serve as liaisons to county departments and outside boards. The assignment document names President Rick Shipe and other council members for specific boards and functions (for example, liaisons to the Building/Plan Commission, Sheriff/Jail, Soil & Water, Emergency Management, Health Department, E-911/Communications and several other boards and committees).

The organizational actions were procedural and designed to set council oversight for the year. No substantive policy decisions were made during the election and liaison approvals; council proceeded to consider departmental presentations and budget items later in the meeting.