That marks the date that Dan Glotz and Ken Klakamp will take over for outgoing county commissioners Jeff Eggleston and Ben Kafferlin.

Both Eggleston and Kafferlin were elected in 2015 and re-elected again in 2019.

They took some time at the conclusion of Wednesday’s meeting to both share their thoughts on the last eight years as well as some words of wisdom for the next board of commissioners.

“It’s been a real honor to work as a commissioner for the county,” Eggleston said.

Times Observer photos by Josh Cotton Pictured are Warren County Commissioners Jeff Eggleston (No tie) and Ben Kafferlin (Striped tie) reflected on their last eight years in office during their last meeting Wednesday at the Warren County Courthouse.

He said any success he’s had is the result of the efforts of the people he has worked with over the last eight years.

“There’s this negativity around the government that is pretty pervasive,” he said, acknowledging that it may affect the people that work here more than anyone else. “The County of Warren has some of the best workers I have ever worked with.”

“Everybody works much harder than they’re paid for in this county,” he stressed.

“All I can say is I’m very grateful you allowed me to share that with you,” Eggleston added, noting that work has “invigorated my belief in people.”

“Thank you for your work over the past 8 years. I learned so much from you. I think that, if there is anything I’ll miss, the top of the list is going to be the people that work in the county.

“They are) some of the best people I’ve ever known in my life. I would nominate many of you for sainthood for the work you do.”

“In the past eight years, I think we’ve done a lot of good,” Kafferlin said.

He specifically highlighted closing the Grunderville Landfill, implementation of a new 911 radio system, building repairs, capital investments and reassessment.

He also highlighted that there are challenges that the next board of commissioners will face – a potential move of the 911 Center, paging system challenges as well as a need to “support and lead the EMS crisis to some sort of resolution.”

The next board will also have to see the reassessment process through while also addressing ongoing capital needs and “some broader things that are changing culturally,” such as shifting to a more e-government-centric model.

Kafferlin said the county stated a performance-based budgeting model this year that he encouraged the next board to take forward. Departments identified goals and objectives for the year as part of the process.

The commissioners were then able to “let them have the freedom to go do what they need to do.” He also suggested the next board explore the idea of instituting a home-rule charter.

More than the policy or project issues, though, Kafferlin told the oncoming board that they’re responsible for setting the culture of county government.

And that’s going to be a challenge in a presidential election year.

Citing COVID-19 and the 2020 election, Kafferlin said the job of commissioner is more partisan than it was eight years ago.

“I think that’s where you need to get back to,” he said. “This job doesn’t really need to be partisan.”

“I’ve said that this job, when you take over elected office, you inherit a precious inheritance from generations back,” he continued. “As we pass the baton to you guys, you’re now the caretakers, the trustees of this estate.

“It’s been a real honor to serve the last eight years.”