Bambauer takes oath
WAPAKONETA —New Knoxville resident Dave Bambauer was sworn into office as an Auglaize County commissioner Monday during a small ceremony in the Common Pleas Court. Judge Frederick Pepple did the honors, assisted by Bambauer’s grandson Luke, who held the Bible.
Bambauer, who has been sitting in with county officials during much of this month, said he plans to spend 2021 learning the role of a commissioner.
Bambauer, a life-long resident of the county village, has been the chief fiscal officer for Bambauer Fertilizer and Seed Inc., as well as the Washington Township fiscal officer for 20 years.
Bambauer said his New Year’s resolution was to “avoid the virus, learn all I can about the county and follow in Don (Regula’s) footsteps as best I can.”
Bambauer was grateful for commissioners allowing him to sit in early. He said with COVID-19 they had been concerned about the budget.
“It seems like we weathered that storm pretty well,” Bambauer said of COVID-19-related county financial concerns. He said although sales tax revenue remains steady, the pandemic still isn’t over yet, and commissioners will remain conservative with spending.
Bambauer said he will wait and see if potential state-funded capital projects, such as renovations for the county jail, are able to move forward.
Bambauer is taking over Regula’s role in a few committees, including a seat on the Armstrong Air and Space Museum’s board of directors and as treasurer of the county insurance consortium.