Logan succeeds Hoppel as commisson chairman

The new chairman said he won't change anything.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The chairman of the Columbiana County commissioners has changed -- and not much else.
Democrat Sean Logan was voted new chairman Monday during the commissioners' mandatory reorganizational meeting.
Logan replaces Republican Jim Hoppel, who has held the position for four years.
Republican Commissioner Gary Williams was absent because he is recovering from heart surgery. Logan said Williams wanted to attend, but was told not to by his doctors.
Hoppel moved that Logan be named chairman. With one member absent, Logan said he knew he would have to second a motion for himself for the chairman or vice chairman's position.
A first as chairman
It's the first time Logan, who is in his fifth year as commissioner, has been chairman. Hoppel is in his third term and is running for the 1st District state representative's seat. Williams is in his first term.
Logan said the chairman's position, "doesn't carry any additional authority."
Hoppel said he nominated Logan because, "It was just time for a change. It's no big thing. It was time to let somebody else be there."
What didn't change is that the commissioners will keep their committee assignments and their orderly way of doing business.
Each commissioner represents the commissioners on a different board or given issue. The commissioner reports back to the full board -- and thus the public -- at commissioners meetings.
Logan said he would make no changes in keeping with the theory that if it isn't broken, don't fix it.
Cooperative spirit
That cooperative spirit in the commissioners' office is mirrored in the other offices. The commissioners are expected to ask voters this year to approve a 0.5 percent sales tax to give the county a secure $18 million annual budget. The tax would bring in about $4 million a year.
County Auditor Nancy Milliken said last week that the county ended 2005 with a carry-over balance of $1.8 million, the highest since at least 1991, and about $400,000 more than expectations.
Logan said that office-holders began to tighten spending in late 2004 in case the 0.5-percent sales tax was defeated in 2005, which it was.
Logan added that county Treasurer Linda Bolon also made $950,000 in investment income for the county last year, some $350,000 more than expected.
wilkinson@vindy.com