NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors wrapped up their last meeting of 2019 Monday morning by saying goodbyes to three incumbent board members and welcoming three men who will take office in January.

Seated in the audience of Monday’s meeting were Wes Middleton, Kevin Wilson and Warren Gaines, who will soon take over the seats of District One Supervisor Mike Lazarus, District Two Supervisor David Carter and District Five Supervisor Calvin Butler respectively.

District Three Supervisor Angela Hutchins began the board members’ reports by moving to adopt resolutions of appreciation for Lazarus, Carter and Butler. The motion passed unanimously.

“Mike, David and Calvin — I’ve enjoyed working with you all and you will be truly missed,” Hutchins said.

Lazarus followed Hutchins’ statement by recalling his last 12 years in office, both the fun moments and difficult decisions.

“Angela has been here all 12 years that I’ve been on this board. Travis (Patten) is my fifth sheriff, Joe (Murray) is my third county administrator. I’ve been through a lot of people in my 12 years in office. It has been fun, and I have enjoyed it,” Lazarus said. “Wes, Kevin and Warren — you don’t know what you’re getting into until you get here. You’ll have to make a whole lot of very important decisions without a lot of time to think about it.

“Hopefully, in the last 12 years I’ve made a lot of good decisions and I don’t think I would change any of them. There are things I wish I wouldn’t have had to decide, but that’s part of the job. … Once you cast your vote it is there in the minutes forever and never goes away, so think wisely before you make your decision. I want what is best for Adams County and support whatever you decide to do.”

Carter encouraged the incoming board members to take the reigns on the boards’ involvement with local school children in both the youth leadership program and allowing elementary students to lead the pledge of allegiance at the start of monthly board meetings.

“Mike and I have become really good friends while I’ve been on this board, and I’ve gotten to know all of you pretty well,” Carter said. “It’s been fun and I’m ready to move on. Adams County and Natchez have been here a long time, and they will keep on rolling.”

District Four Supervisor James “Ricky” Gray, said he believes both the incumbent and incoming supervisors all have the same goal in mind.

“We all have different opinions and a lot of times we don’t agree on certain things, but at the end of the day you have to do what is important to move Adams County forward,” Gray said.

Chancery Clerk Brandi Lewis, the board attorney Scott Slover and Adams County Administrator Joe Murray all expressed their appreciation for the supervisors as well.

“I second what everyone else has already said,” District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler said as he concluded the reports. “It’s been a great pleasure working with this board and with the community. I’ve enjoyed working with all of you. … It has been my pleasure to serve the people of Adams County.”