County bids an emotional farewell to Josh Meyer

T-L Photos/GAGE VOTA
Belmont County Commissioner Josh Meyer becomes emotional as his daughter Aivreigh Holmes speaks, praising him as a role model.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Emotions were high as Josh Meyer attended his final meeting as a Belmont County commissioner on Wednesday morning.

Meyer was first elected in November 2016 and has served the community as a county commissioner since, completing two terms. He ran for a third term this year but was beaten by Vince Gianangeli in the Republican primary.

On Wednesday, several Belmont County officials and employees surprised Meyer by attending the commission meeting and spending the open public forum congratulating and thanking Meyer for his service to the community.

Meyer was pleasantly surprised when the mob of community members entered the meeting. The surprise was planned and orchestrated by fellow Commissioners J.P. Dutton and Jerry Echemann, who both said they consider Meyer a friend and a valued member of the community.

“Josh is a good guy to work with. He’s taught me a lot about being a commissioner and always adds humor to the meetings,” Echemann said. “I think Josh, for me, shines mostly when we’re having our own deliberations amongst ourselves and deciding what we ought to do. The judgment that he shows during those times is excellent. He really has sound judgment on so many different things and brings up points that maybe I didn’t think of and is very persuasive.”

Meyer replied by joking, “That’s what I say about my wife.”

Echemann added that Meyer will be greatly missed but said he is thankful for the time he has been able to work alongside him.

Dutton then spoke. He and Meyer were both elected in 2016, meaning that they both started working as commissioners at the same time.

“Josh and I entered the board at the same time and it’s honestly kind of hard to sum that up, but what I can say is Josh Meyer is a very good commissioner. He’s actually an excellent commissioner,” Dutton said. “The way he approaches the job hasn’t really changed in the eight years, and not that we haven’t grown or learned from our roles on the board but what drives him today is what drove him when he first came here and that was to try and make the best decision possible when faced with decisions whether small or big.”

Dutton added that he believes working with Meyer has made his and Echemann’s job easier and that the commissioners wouldn’t have accomplished as much as they have in the past eight years without Meyer’s work on the board.

“Josh you will be greatly missed,” Dutton concluded.

Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas, who will also be ending his term in January, began by giving Meyer a gift of peanut butter pretzels.

“This is a standing joke between Josh and I over the years. My chief will always say if you feed the critters, they won’t bite,” Lucas joked. “Josh, I love you man. You have been a good asset, and I mean all three of you are. Look where the sheriff’s office went. I came in 2013, and look where we’re at now, and we wouldn’t be here without your input and support.”

Echemann’s son, Martins Ferry Councilman Spencer Echemann, said one of the many perks of having a father as a commissioner is that he gets to build personal relationships with the other commissioners.

“Josh, I’ve known you for a long time now and I just want to say that it’s been a pleasure getting to know you,” Spencer Echemann said. “I think the three commissioners here have made one of the best teams in Belmont County.”

Commissioner Jerry Echemann joked that if Spencer didn’t say his kind words he was going to return his Christmas gifts.

Lisa Ward of the Belmont County Mental Health and Recovery Board then spoke. She credited Meyer for being a strong advocate for Belmont County residents’ mental health.

“I’m going to miss you,” she said as she started to tear up. “Josh and I have had a lot of conversations over the last five years, and if it wasn’t for him I don’t feel like I would have as great of a relationship with these three commissioners.”

She added that when she attends state meetings and talks to other counties’ mental health directors, they tell her they don’t have as much support from their commissioners as she does in Belmont County.

“I’m going to miss you. I will find you wherever you end up and maybe someday we will work together again,” Ward said.

Commissioner Echemann added that due to Meyer previously working in the medical field before becoming a commissioner, there were countless times where his medical background would come into play.

Finallly, Meyer’s daughter, Aivreigh Holmes, spoke.

“I just wanted to stand up and say how proud I am of him personally,” she said. “Him being in this position taught me a lot about professionalism, integrity and standing up for what I believe in. I know that is something that he does every day, and I am proud to call myself his daughter.”

Meyer started to tear up as she spoke, adding that he was doing well until she took the floor.

He then said that he believes he is very blessed to have served as a commissioner.

“I am blessed to know each and every one of you, and I can say that today won’t be the last day that I talk to any one of you because it goes beyond this job,” Meyer said. “I was blessed to serve in a position for eight years that as a kid, as crazy as that sounds, I wanted to do and I was able to do it.”

He added that usually when the commission meetings had as many attendees as it did Wednesday, something bad was happening in the community.

“I am thankful and blessed to have two great colleagues these last six years, and J.P. for eight years,” Meyer said. “I just think we did it right.”

Meyer added that he plans to enter the private sector professionally, although didn’t rule out running for a political position again.