WPCOG honors outgoing Chair and recognized new Chair at bi-monthly Policy Board meeting
At the November 28 bimonthly Policy Board meeting, the WPCOG delegation elected Lenoir Mayor Joseph L. Gibbons as the next WPCOG Chair. Mayor Gibbons will serve as policy board chair from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025. Outgoing Chair, Hickory Councilwoman Jill Patton, served her 2-year term with distinction and was honored during the meeting for her service. Chair Patton provided sound leadership and guidance as the head of the policy board and WPCOG Executive Committee, comprised of the policy board’s elected officers. The WPCOG executive committee includes, newly elected Vice Chair Randy Burns (Burke County Commissioner); Secretary Larry Chapman (Hudson Town Commissioner); Treasurer George Holleman (Mayor of Taylorsville); Immediate Past Chair Jill Patton (Hickory Councilwoman); Executive Committee At-Large members Mike
LaBrose (Caldwell County Commissioner), Cole Setzer (Catawba County Commissioner), Marla Thompson (Mayor of Long View), and Larry Yoder (Alexander County Commissioner).
Chair Patton said,“Serving the region and representing the City of Hickory as Chair of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments has been my great privilege. The WPCOG does terrific work for our region and local governments, and the elected and appointed board members work hard to collaborate on making our region one of the best in the state. The WPCOG staff has been responsive to the needs of our local governments while diligently delivering programs and services. I know Mayor Gibbons will do great things with the resources provided to him by the WPCOG, and his leadership will be a valuable asset to the policy board during his tenure as Chair.”
“I look forward to what we can accomplish as a region and collaboratively among our local governments. We have one of the best councils of governments in the country and are uniquely blessed with communities that have traditionally worked together to better the region. Councilwoman Patton did a fantastic job as Chair and left big shoes to fill; I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to how we as a board can equip the WPCOG to make our region an attractive place to not only live and work but thrive,” stated Mayor Joseph L. Gibbons, incoming WPCOG Chair.
The WPCOG Policy Board includes delegates and alternates appointed by the 28 town, city, and county member governments. Each municipal and county government has one vote to govern the business of the WPCOG, which organizes and administers regional and local initiatives and programs on behalf of local governments. The Policy Board also includes seven nonelected members representing the private sector and community.
About WPCOG
The WPCOG Policy Board serves as the governing board for an agency with 75 professionals. The WPCOG is a regional governmental agency governed by and serving the 28 local governments in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties. The WPCOG provides a range of services to local governments and residents throughout the region. Those services, departments, and programs include administrative and human resources services to local governments, Area Agency on Aging, Community & Economic Development, Community & Regional Planning, financial administration for local governments, Regional Public Housing Authority, Workforce Development Board, and many other programs.