The Warren County Commissioners formally recognized Ken Klakamp and Lori Bimber during Wednesday’s meeting.

Both retired at the end of 2020.

“(We) would have liked to do this when they retired over a year ago,” Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said of the recognitions.

Klakamp served in law enforcement for 46 years, including 19 1/2 as a deputy and then nine years as sheriff. Bimber started her career in 1986 in the county’s recreation department before shifting to the Register & Recorder’s Office. She was elected to lead that office in 2004.

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Retired Register & Recorder Lori Bimber was presented with a plaque by Commissioner Jeff Eggleston - as well as citations from the state House and Senate - during Wednesday’s commissioners meeting.

Those retirements, though, fell at the “very height of COVID” and it “did not make sense to have a public meeting and ignite people to celebrate at that time,” he added.

Both were presented with plaques from the county as well as citations from the state House and Senate presented by State Representative Kathy Rapp and by Mary Kushner, Sen. Scott Hutchinson’s field representative.

“We believe that it’s a great honor for any citizen to go above and beyond to receive a citation from the House and Senate,” Rapp said.

The Sheriff’s Office also presented a special badge to Klakamp.

Sheriff Brian Zeybel took over his post from Klakamp.

“His slogan was people before politics,” Zeybel said. “It made sense to me but I didn’t realize what that meant until I got into his shoes. (He) never made a decision for political gain. It was ‘what’s best for the people of Warren County?'”

“It’s always been about the community,” Klakamp said. “It’s always been about the people.”

He credited his staff, especially the three deputies who served under him as chief deputy.

“The thing that I am the most proud of are my wife, my kids, my two adorable grandsons, my staff and serving Warren County,” he said. “(T)he service to the community is what I’m most proud of,” calling it an “honor and privilege to have served Warren County.

“Thank you for the recognition,” Bimber said. “It was a pleasure to serve for as many years as I did.”

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