VIENNA - Mayor David Nohe said the words "meeting adjourned" for the last time at Thursday night's Vienna City Council meeting.
"This sure seems different than my chair in the city building," Nohe said in front of a crowd of family, friends and colleagues at Vienna Baptist Church.
Prayers were said at the council meeting for Vienna Fire Chief Danny Goodwin, who is in intensive care in a hospital in Cincinnati.
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Photo by Mandi Cardosi
From left, Vienna Councilman Paul Thornton, City Recorder Cathy Smith, Councilman Steve Stephens, Councilman Jim Miracle, Mayor-elect Randy Rapp, Councilman Roger Bibbee, Councilman Bruce Rogers and City Attorney Russell Skogstad.
Mayor-elect Randy Rapp led the Pledge of Allegiance and Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, presented Nohe with a commemorative plaque. Nohe serves in the state Senate.
The newly elected council members were sworn in to office, including the newest member, Steve Stephens.
Stephens served as police chief in the Nohe administration.
Rapp spoke after being sworn in to the office of mayor.
"I just want to share a couple of thoughts with you all," he said to the crowd. "This lady and those gentlemen (on council) have a total years of service of 194 years to the city of Vienna."
Rapp shared a few experiences and expressed his hopes for the city of Vienna's next four years. He asked attendees to help him in singing "America the Beautiful."
"It's not my voice; it will be all of us singing together that will make this council as successful as it has been over the last 100 years," he said.
Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford said a few words about her experiences with Nohe.
"We have all worked together on everything we've done," she said of the Williamstown/Marietta/Vienna area. "I wish you all the luck in the world and I love you very much."
Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz shared his thoughts about Nohe.
"I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about Mayor Nohe," he said. "When I (leave office) I hope I've left the legacy you've left here."
Rapp acknowledged the members of Nohe's administration. Employees had nothing but praise for him and the new mayor-elect.
Boley presented Nohe with a certificate from Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's office. She recognized Nohe for his efforts with the state Senate.
"I just want to tell you what a privilege it is to have David down in Charleston," she said. "He does a wonderful job."
The certificate from the governor was awarded to Nohe in appreciation for his 16 years of service to the city of Vienna.
Nohe teared up as he thanked his department heads and members of the council over the years.
"You can't believe what they did," he said. "If we had a problem, they knew I was coming; but we didn't have that many problems."
Nohe mentioned the changing times in his 16 years of service. From Y2K to the power outage last June, the city has faced some hardships, he said. He thanked the mayors of all surrounding cities for working together to make the area a better place.
"Everybody cares about the other person," he said through some tears. "We don't just try to make Vienna great - we try to make this area great."
"What a council," Nohe added. "And this is my last time to say it - meeting adjourned."
