Fulton County Council, Commissioners reorganize, make board appointments for new year

In unanimous votes, Fulton County Councilmen Ron Dittman and Pete Karas have been elected president and vice president, respectively, of the seven-member council. The council, following ont he heels of commissioners, also made board appointments this week.

The Fulton County Council and Commissioners this week reorganized for 2025. 

During its first meeting of the new year Tuesday, Councilman Ron Dittman, District 2, was elected president of the seven-member council. Councilman Pete Karas, District 1, was elected vice president. Both votes were unanimous.

As earlier reported, Commissioners Dave Sommers and Rick Ranstead were elected president and vice president, respectively, of the three-member board of commissioners Monday.

The county council welcomes two new at-large members, Patty Geier and Barry Baldwin. They replace outgoing council members Phyl Olinger, who did not run for reelection, and Lorie Hurst, who lost the race for county auditor to Kathy Adamson in last year's primary election. 

With the new year also comes board appointments. Council members Dittman, Karas, Geier, Baldwin, Randy Gundrum, Chayse Thompson and Steve Fishburn will serve on the following boards and committees:

Dittman – Emergency Medical Services Board, Hazardous Substances Committee, Job Classification Committee, Personnel Police Committee.

Karas – American Rescue Plan Act Committee, Community Corrections Advisory Board, Courthouse Security Committee, Criminal Justice Committee, Insurance Committee, Job Classification Committee, Personnel Police Committee.

Geier – American Rescue Plan Act Committee, Redevelopment Commission.

Baldwin – Redevelopment Commission, Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.

Gundrum – Fulton Economic Development Corp. Board, Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Board, Informaton Technology Committee, Manitou Training Center Board.

Thompson – Area Plan Commission, Job Classification Committee, Solid Waste Committee.

Fishburn – Emergency Management Agency Advisory Board, Local Emergency Plan Commission.

The council also appointed these people to the following boards and committees:

Pam Fish – Alcoholic Beverage Board.

Phil Miller – Area Plan Commission. 

Megihann Leininger – Early Intervention. 

Kathy Adamson – Fulton County Animal Adoption and Education Center Board.

Ric Fouts – Hazardous Substances Committee.

Eric Schlarf – Fulton County Park and Recreation Board.

Michael White and Rick Gardner – Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.

Commissioners reappointed these department heads: Animal Control Warden Samantha Sorak; Maintenance Director Kerry Fear; Highway Department Superintendent John Geier; Highway Department Assistant Superintendent John Flint; 911 Communications Director Brittney Thompson; Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Sewell; IT Director Josh Sriver; and Veteran Service Officer Ric Fouts. 

Holli Shorter-Pifer also was reappointed as the county's attorney.

Commissioners appointed themselves to the following boards and committees:

Lewis – American Rescue Plan Act Committee, Courthouse Security Committee, Redevelopment Commission, Personnel Policy Committee.

Ranstead – Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Board, Area Plan Commission, Community Corrections Advisory Board, EMS Board, Insurance Committee, U.S. 31 Coalition.

Sommers – Chamber of Commerce Board, EMA Board, Hazardous Substances Committee, Information Technology Committee, Local Emergency Plan Commission.

Commissioners appointed these people to the following boards and committees:

Cheryl Brown – Alcoholic Beverage Board.

Thomas Smith – Arrowhead Country Resource Conservation and Development Area.

Jeri Good – Citizen's Cemetery Board

Seth Wilson and Deb Barts – Board of Zoning Appeals.

Addie Lawson – Health Board. 

Chantal Rensberger – Redevelopment Commission, Council on Aging.

Michael Ladd – Redevelopment Commission. 

Pam Fish – Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.

Bev Jackson – Public Defender Board. 

Tim Strasser – Solid Waste Committee. 

Jillian Smith, Teresa Ogle, Stacy Heckathorn, Melinda Clinger and Tiffany Luckens, Gloria Carvey and Tracy Moore – Tourism Board.