Three long-time politicians and the top administrator of Lambton said goodbye Wednesday.

Plympton-Wyoming’s Lonny Napper, St. Clair Township’s Steve Arnold and Lambton Shores’ Bill Weber have all served on county council for multiple terms – Arnold since the 1990s. Both Arnold and Weber have served as warden and Napper served as deputy warden. Wednesday was their last county council meeting.

Weber served as warden for four years and was in office on March 18 when the county declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was a real struggle, but we all work together and that’s what Lambton county does.”

Weber, who appeared emotional toward the end of his remarks, thanked his fellow councillors and staff for their help during his time as warden. “Everyone here is fully dedicated to helping this community.”

Arnold, the longest serving member of the three retiring, was philosophical saying the world is constantly changing and that’s not a bad thing.

“Things will not stay the same…We need to be participatory. I look at these young people up in the gallery here today and I look at them as leaders, they’ll be here to replace us, which is a good thing. And they will bring a different set of knowledge and practical solutions to all the things that we have all tried to do over the last number of years.”

Napper, in what he admitted was a rambling speech, said being the deputy warden during Arnold’s two year term was a great learning experience.

“I just like to thank everybody. It opened up a lot of doors for me, I had a year, two years here with Steve Arnold, that was probably the highlight of my career and I know a lot of doors opened and we got to places that I would never gone before.”

And he added; “I’m sure you won’t miss me for disrupting your meetings at times.”

Councillors also said goodbye to long-time CAO Ron VanHorne. He’s retiring in February after 30 years with the county. Stéphane Thiffeault, general manager of corporate services, and deputy chief administrative officer, will take over the role.

At Wednesday’s meeting VanHorne passed the torch – or rather the red jacket – to Thiffeault.

“When I first got appointed to the county in a senior staff position, I was told that I had to wear a red jacket to council and it’s a it’s a beautiful fashion garment,” he said to laughter in the crowd. County council members stopped wearing the red coats to meetings years ago.

“I was honored to be able to wear it because it meant that I was accepted to the community and I was part of it. It’s a symbolic thing and we kept it all these years – not wearing it very often – Halloween maybe – not around the town or anything,” he said as he took it off.

“So, I thought as a transitional thing, I would give it to Stéphane,” he added helping the soon to be CAO into the red coat.