Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
Montgomery County Board of Supervisor and Chair Sherri Blevins, and Supervisor Darrell Sheppard received well wishes from the County Board and community members as they participated in their last supervisor’s meeting Dec. 11, 2023.
Christopher Tuck, attorney and former Montgomery County Board of Supervisor, commended Sheppard and Blevins for their work and dedication to the County during the public address session of the meeting.
“I want to thank both of you for your service to our community,” Tuck said.
Tuck first addressed Sheppard in his commitment to the county for the past eight years he has served on the board.
“Our family has been on this board for over three decades, in one member or another. You’ve done it for all the right reasons to make a difference in the community that you grew up in. For all the right reasons, you ran, didn’t run ugly campaigns, always ran positive campaigns, and always looked for the commonsense solution, and I want to thank you for that,” Tuck said.
In response to Blevins’ term of service Tuck stated that she “knocked it out of the park these last four years.”
County Attorney Marty McMahon also recognized Blevins and Sheppard’s service to the County, expressing how much they will be missed.
“I want to take the opportunity to thank both you Madam Chair and Darrell. It’s been a pleasure for me to be able to work with you guys and represent you, and really not just work, but I’ve really enjoyed your company and your companionship, and all the communications we’ve had together,” McMahon said. “I also want to thank you for your commitment to the county and as Madam Chair always says, your service to the county…it’s a hard job and a lot of times it’s thankless, but not from my point-of-view.”
Supervisors Todd King, April DeMotts, Steve Fijalkowski, Sara Bohn, and Mary Biggs each shared fond memories and congratulations on time well-served on the Board to Sheppard and Blevins.
“I remember the day that my wife and I were sitting around talking and wondering who was going to replace Chris Tuck, and you know, it’s one of those moments you think, well there’s you know, 100,000 people in this county, who are you going to pick, and we both immediately thought of Sherri Blevins,” Fijalkowski said.
DeMotts was emotional in her farewell to both Supervisors.
“I’m really going to miss both of you and wish you all the best in everything that you do,” DeMotts said.
Additional recognitions of service were approved by the Board of Supervisors for Commissioner of Revenue Helen Royal, Clerk of Court Erica Conner, Treasurer Helen St. Clair, and Senator John Edwards.
“Ms. Royal served three terms as the Commissioner of the Revenue and retired June 30, 2023. Ms. Royal served a total of 36 years in the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office,” according to the Board agenda.
Circuit Court Clerk Erica Conner retired Feb. 28, 2023, serving 16 years in the county.
Treasurer Helen St. Clair completed one term as treasurer but had a total of 39 years of service in the treasurer’s office.
Senator John Edwards will also be retiring effective January 2024, serving 28 years.
In new business, Montgomery County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved two increases to the fiscal year 2024 budget. Appropriations of $3,043,887 will go to Montgomery County Public Schools and specifically will support transportation and instruction costs. Additionally, the Montgomery Museum of Art and History will receive $100,000 in support of a needed HVAC system upgrade. The museum has also been successful in their fundraising efforts to raise part of the money as well.