Tuscarawas County, Ohio - County officials are showing their appreciation for Commissioner Kerry Metzger as he begins his retirement. 

Commissioners Chris Abbuhl and Joe Sciarretti recognized Metzger on Monday for his more than 30 years of dedicated public service.

Abbuhl says Metzger has served the Tuscarawas County well during his 16 years as commissioner and will be missed in his retirement.

“He’s been a good public servant, and he’s served Tuscarawas County well, and he should feel good about the fact that I believe that he’s leaving the place a little bit better than he found it,” he says. 

Sciarretti says they’re grateful for Metzger’s service and wish him the best for the future.

“This is a monumental day, obviously, and it’s a sad day but it’s also a glad day because the county has had great leadership, and we’re in good standing financially. That has a lot to do with his leadership,” he says.

Sciarretti commended Metzger for his precision and sense of humor as they worked to finalize the county’s 2019 budget. 

“I joke with him saying that he’s never stopped being a dentist. He looked for cavities in the budget, and he polished where it needed polish and added fillings where he needed to add fillings, and he even instituted laughing gas just for levity,” he says.

Metzger says he plans to spend more time with his family and working with the Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug Coalition. He also plans to advocate for Lyme disease research and support. 

STACEY CARMANY, TUSCO TV