LAWTON — Comanche County officials paid tribute Monday to two county commissioners who are leaving office.
Commission Chairman Alvin Cargill and Commissioner Gail Turner are stepping down after losing their bids for another term earlier this year. Cargill has served on the commission for four years, while Turner is a 24-year veteran of the commission.
Commissioner Johnny Owens, who was not up for reelection this year, presented Cargill and Turner with plaques honoring their service on the commission.
“I’m going to miss these two guys, because working with them has been real rewarding and everything,” Owens said. “And so I just want to thank you.”
Cargill said elected officials helped steer the county through some challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We didn’t know how to handle it, and I think everybody here – everybody in this building – handled it well,” he said. “We got through it. And ARPA – it’s not over, but it’s in a good place right now, I think.”
Cargill was referring to the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal relief program designed to help local governments recover from the economic impact of the pandemic. The county received about $23 million in ARPA funds and distributed some of that money to communities for eligible projects.
Turner thanked county officials for their teamwork.
“We’ve got a great set of elected officials here,” he said. “We’re very lucky in this county that everybody gets along. Everybody works together for the taxpayer.”
For their part, county officials said they enjoyed working with the commission.
“On behalf of the fire departments in Comanche County and all the first responders, I want to thank you for your dedication,” said emergency management director Clint Langford. “What you guys do for us – quite literally, the things that you do in support – has saved lives.”