CAPTION: Members of the 101st term of Chillicothe city government were seated Wednesday after taking the oath of office for respective positions. Seated, from left: 4th Ward Councilman Paul Howard, 3rd Ward Councilman Tom Douglas, Mayor Chuck Haney, Councilman-at-Large Darrel Rinehart Jr., 2nd Ward Councilman Maurice Zion, 1st Ward Councilman Sid Cornell. Back, from left: Street Superintendent Hugh Musselman, Airport Manager Bill Kieffer, Green Hills Golf Course Manager Joel Gilliland, Parks and Recreation Director Ron Krammes, Constable and Chief of Police Rick Knouse, Director of Emergency Services Darrell Wright, Clerk Rozanne Frampton, Auditor Theresa Kelly, Treasurer Sherry Parks, Attorney Adam Warren, and Administrator Dean Brookshier. The terms for elected city offices are two years; however, at one time they were just one year. Not pictured: Gil Gates, zoning administrator/code enforcement officer, and Gerry Gabel, Green Hills Golf Course maintenance supervisor.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

In a formal ceremony at City Hall at high noon Wednesday, members of the 100th term of Chillicothe city government adjourned sine die and the 101st term began. The council chambers were filled with well-wishers and Chillicothe Mayor Chuck Haney welcomed those in attendance. The Rev. Bill Bellais, pastor of Grace Episcopal Church, offered a prayer for city officials beginning the new term. Terms are two years; however, early in city history, terms lasted just one year each.

Special recognition was made and plaques given to those going off the council: 1st Ward Councilman Earle Teegarden Jr., 3rd Ward Councilwoman Donna Preszler, and 4th Ward Councilwoman Pam Jarding. In making the presentations, Haney expressed his appreciation for their dedication in serving the citizens of Chillicothe. Those gathered in the chambers stood and applauded the outgoing council members. “The standing ovation goes to you, the citizens of Chillicothe, whom we have had the privilege of representing,” Jarding said, in making farewell comments. “There have been some very difficult decisions that were made... This council took things seriously because of you.”

Jarding, completing her third term in office, did not seek re-election. Preszler also expressed appreciation for allowing her to represent the 3rd Ward. “It has been an experience... an eye-awakening experience,” she said, adding that she planned to return to city government “in one capacity or another.” Preszler lost her bid for a second term in office to former 3rd Ward Councilman Tom Douglas. Teegarden also stated that it had been "an interesting eight years" on the council. "I beleive we have worked and always put the interest of the city ahead of anything else," Teegarden said. Teegarden did not seek re-election.

The remaining council members and city officials also took time to make comments about the transition. Second Ward Councilman Maurice Zion said he looked forward to serving with the new council. Darrel Rinehart Jr., whom Mayor Chuck Haney said he recruited for the councilman-at-large position, will serve a second term in that capacity after having beat out his opponent, Jeff Foli. Rinehart had previously served eight terms as 4th Ward councilman before taking a hiatus in government service. He returned to the council in 2007. "I have gleaned a lot of wisdom from the departing council and I look forward to the new council," Rinehart told those gathered. "I am looking forward to watching the community grow."

City Administrator Dean Brookshier thanked the outgoing council members fro their efforts. "It has been a pleasure working with you," he said. Mayor Haney applauded the city employees who work hard for the benefit of the city. "We have the greatest city in the United States of America," Haney said. "The work that has been done and has been accomplished is due to the 82 dedicated city employees."

The swearing-in portion of the day began with Livingston County Circuit Clerk  Brenda Wright administering the oath of office to City Clerk Rose Frampton. Frampton then administered the oath of office to the remaining elected officials and to the appointed personnel. The mayor and each of the new council members took the oath of office individually and those elected officials who are returning for the new term took the oath of office together. They are: Mayor Chuck Haney, Clerk Rozanne Frampton, Auditor Theresa Kelly, Treasurer Sherry Parks, Attorney Adam Warren, Constable Richard Knouse, Councilman-at-Large Darrel Rinehart Jr., and council members Sid Cornell (1st Ward), Maurice Zion (2nd Ward), Tom Douglas (3rd Ward) and Paul Howard (4th Ward).

Frampton also administered the oath of commission to the city's appointed personnel: Street Superintendent Hugh Musselman, Airport Manager Bill Kieffer, Green Hills Golf Course Manager Joel Gilliland, Parks and Recreation Director Rom Krammes, Chief of Police Rick Knouse, Director of Emergency Services Darrell Wright, and Administrator Dean Brookshier. Gil Gates, zoning administrator/code enforcement officer, and Gerry Gabel, Green Hills Golf Course maintenance supervisor, were not present for the ceremony. A reception in the City Hall lobby immediately followed the ceremony.