Thanks to county citizens

I would like to thank the citizens of Cape Girardeau County for giving me the opportunity to serve them for the last 16 years as their county commissioner. During these years I have been privileged to meet and work with many of the residents of Cape Girardeau County.

In early 1992, many acquaintances and friends urged me to run for the office of 1st District commissioner. Through their hard work and determination and with the help of a lot of people, I was elected in November 1992. Serving my first term with Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep and 2nd District Commissioners E.C. Younghouse helped me to understand how good, conservative county government should work.

All the departments of county government and their dedicated employees are to be commended for the work they do on a daily basis. A special thanks goes to Scott Bechtold, county highway administrator, and county highway employees for their hard work in all kinds of weather in improving and maintaining our county road system.

The rapid growth of Cape Girardeau County, resulting in first-class county status, has enabled many improvements overseen by the county commission, including a new county jail, new archive center, the nature center in North County Park, growth at the Southeast Missouri Port, and formation of the Magnet organization involving Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and their chambers of commerce. The many projects accomplished by the county commission in cooperation with the cities and many other organizations have been a great asset to your county.

Working in county government as your commissioner has been a rewarding experience, and I would like to thank all the Cape Girardeau County residents, my family, my friends and my God for this experience.

Larry Bock served 16 years on the Cape Girardeau County Commission before deciding not to seek re-election last year.