Morris W. Beveridge elected Lake County board president; commissioners approve committee lineup

Morris W. Beveridge was elected president of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at the board’s annual organizational meeting, and commissioners unanimously approved a series of committee and board appointments for 2026.

The vote to elect Beveridge passed on a voice/roll-call motion. After being sworn or recognized as president, Beveridge offered remarks that mixed gratitude and remembrance following the recent death of fellow commissioner Richard Rekovich, calling the day "bittersweet." He thanked county staff and the Rekovich family and said the loss had prompted him to reflect on public service and family priorities.

"The word, for me today, is bittersweet," Beveridge said. "While he will not physically be in this building, his spirit and his impact... will forever be in the building." He thanked staff on the fourth and fifth floors for their work and expressed appreciation for colleagues who supported the transition. Beveridge also welcomed Commissioner Morgan R. McIntosh to the board.

Beyond the leadership election, the board approved routine appointments and representative designations. The clerk read resolutions naming commissioners and alternates to boards and committees; each motion was moved, seconded and carried by unanimous roll-call votes. Key appointments included:

- Commissioner John T. Plecnik as the Lake County Automatic Data Processing (ADP) board representative, with Joel DeMar and Zachary Underwood listed as alternates. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioner Morgan R. McIntosh as the Lake County Solid Waste Management Policy Committee representative. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioners John T. Plecnik and Morgan R. McIntosh as members of the Lake County Investment Advisory Committee in accordance with ORC section 135.341(a),(b) and (c). Approved unanimously.

- Commissioner Morris W. Beveridge as the Lake County Geographic Information System Board representative, with Randy Rethlisberger as alternate. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioner Morgan R. McIntosh as the Lake County Narcotics Agency Executive Board representative. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioner Morris W. Beveridge as the board’s representative on the Lake County Board of Revision for 2026. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioner Morris W. Beveridge as the official voting representative (and Morgan R. McIntosh as alternate) for the Lake County Board of Commissioners at the Lake County Commissioners Association of Ohio annual meeting in 2026. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioners John T. Plecnik and Morgan R. McIntosh as members of the Lake County Land Reutilization Corporation board of directors. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioner John T. Plecnik as representative to the Lake County microfilming board, with Joe Jamar and Zachary Underwood as alternates. Approved unanimously.

- Commissioner Morgan R. McIntosh to the 9-1-1 program review committee. Approved unanimously.

Votes at a glance: each listed resolution passed on a roll-call vote with the board recording unanimous affirmative votes from the three commissioners in attendance.

The meeting closed with President Beveridge moving to adjourn the organizational meeting and announcing that the first regular commission meeting would be held that day at 10:00 a.m.; the motion carried and the organizational meeting adjourned.

The meeting record includes a short memorial reference to former commissioner Richard Rekovich and a set of routine committee assignments that position commissioners as representatives to county advisory boards and intergovernmental associations for 2026.