Photo by Deb Gau Lyon County Commissioners Steve Ritter and Charlie Sanow were recognized last week for their years of service on the county board.

MARSHALL — Lyon County government will be seeing some changes in the coming year — including having some different faces on the county board. Last week, Commissioners Steve Ritter and Charlie Sanow looked back on their time in office, and said they were thankful to have been able to serve.

“It’s been a real privilege to work with Lyon County,” Sanow said, during a reception at the final county commissioner meeting of 2022.

During the reception, Sanow and Ritter were recognized for their service as commissioners. Ritter and Sanow, both Marshall residents, have a combined total of 30 years of experience on the county board.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done,” Commissioner Rick Anderson said during the reception. “I’ve enjoyed working with Steve not only as a (county) employee but as a commissioner, and Charlie and I have way too much fun.”

Ritter said Jan. 1 will mark 20 years since he first started serving on the Lyon County Board. Back in 2002, a Lyon County resident had asked him if he would consider running for commissioner, and Ritter said he figured he had the time and ability to serve.

“It’s been a rewarding experience,” Ritter said. “I like working for the public.”

During his 20 years as a commissioner, Ritter has served as county board chairman twice. However, he said the highlight of his time on the county board was getting to know and work with everyone from fellow commissioners to county staff and residents of Lyon County.

“I’ve met a lot of good people,” Ritter said. “That’s been really rewarding for me.”

Earlier this year, Ritter said he decided not to run again for commissioner, because it was time to let someone new step forward.

“I want to thank former and current commissioners,” Ritter said at last week’s reception. “I know we’ve had some differences of opinion over the last 20 years, but the best thing I can remember about it – and it’s still rewarding to me –after every meeting we walk out as friends. Whether we agree or we disagree, we’re still a part of democracy here.”

Sanow has served on the county board in Commissioner District 1 since 2013. He ran for county commissioner after serving on the Marshall City Council.

“I first got involved with the city, because I wanted to be involved and I was concerned where we were headed,” Sanow said.

He left the council when he had planned to move to a farmstead outside Marshall. But circumstances changed, and Sanow ran for county board instead.

“It was a different way to serve,” he said.

“I’m just really thankful I’ve had the opportunity to serve Lyon County the last 10 years,” Sanow said.

“I think we came up with some very creative things in the past 10 years, that were brought forward to help this county be more progressive than it was,” Sanow said.

He was glad to have been part of the efforts to start Lyon County’s mattress recycling program, which not only helped divert bulky mattresses from the county landfill, but offered employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Clients of Advance Opportunities work to break discarded mattresses down into component materials for recycling.

Sanow said he was also glad to bring forward programs like the county’s property tax abatement for new construction. “It’s brought forth a lot of new homes and new improvements,” he said.

Although their terms on the board were coming to an end, Ritter and Sanow said it didn’t mean they weren’t going to be engaged in the community.

“There is going to be life after being a commissioner,” Ritter said.

Sanow in particular said he would still be finding ways to be engaged moving forward.

“For every beginning, there’s an end, and for every first day, there’s a last,” Sanow said. “I don’t feel like I’ve got a last day yet.”