By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Former St. Joseph dentist Scott Nelson easily won his election bid to become the new Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner, succeeding Lee Sawyer, who decided not to run again after serving in the role for four years.
Nelson says one of the biggest things he's had to do during his early days on the job is simply meeting a lot of different people at the Buchanan County Courthouse.
"The first couple of weeks is an interesting process," Nelson said on KFEQ's The Hotline. "I have to try and get introduced to all of the different people there at the courthouse, or introduce myself and try to meet them. Especially those who are kind of under me."
Nelson defeated Democratic challenger Andrew Nelson during the election this past November. Nelson serves alongside fellow county commissioners Scott Burnham and Ron Hook.
Nelson says the biggest task that he and the other commissioners have faced in his early days on the job was finalizing the new county budget, which was just finalized this past Thursday.
"The budgeting process was always going to be front and center," Nelson explained. "It started compilating and things like that toward the end of last year, and I must thank Lee Sawyer for allowing me to come in and shadow him and be part of that."
Nelson says the county budget is available at the county commissioner's offices for any members of the general public who want to look at it, or for anyone who might have any questions.
Buchanan County has about $49 million annually in discretionary income.
Nelson says the commissioners strive to be transparent and open with the public.
He's also learned that one of the most important parts of the job is simply allowing others within the courthouse to do their jobs the best that they know how.
"The fact we have open meetings that the public can come in and listen," Nelson said, "and comment at times, it's all part of transparency and I think that's a good thing. But, you don't want to get in the way of people who are more experienced at running certain offices than others."
Buchanan County Commissioner meetings take place every weekday morning at 9 a.m. at the courthouse and they are open to the public. The commissioners do not meet on federal holidays.
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.