- November 7, 2024
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Flagler County Commissioner George Hanns (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Flagler County Commissioner George Hanns and County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
County Commissioner George Hanns, kneeling at center, set his camera up in front of the dais and gathered attendees for a group photo. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Flagler County Commissioner George Hanns and County Commissioner Charlie Ericksen (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Officials and residents celebrated County Commissioner George Hanns’ six terms of service as a commissioner in a ceremony Nov. 21 punctuated by Hanns’ one-liners and others’ tales of the dedication and the levity he’s brought to the board for 24 years.
Hanns is leaving the commission — Donald O’Brien will take the District 5 seat in a ceremony the afternoon of Nov. 22 — but Hanns is not done working to serve the public.
“My dream now is to have a veterans museum,” Hanns said a the event “Actually, I need somewhere to hang out. I certainly am not going to be coming to County Commission meetings. I’m going to miss you all, but this is something that I’m honored to be a part of, and if I’m needed, I’ll be here.”
About 100 people, including former and current officials, had shown up at the event, held at 4 p.m. in the County Commission chambers before a regular 5 p.m. County Commission meeting.
Many spoke to recount some of the projects Hanns has been involved with — the county’s artificial reef program, renovations at Princes Place, the Veterans Memorial in front of the Government Services Building — and to give him some good-natured roasting.
“There’s a couple things that come to mind about George: The first is, good things come in small packages,” said County Commissioner Charlie Ericksen, towering over the more diminutive Hanns.
Hanns’ competitor, O’Brien, was in attendance, and Hanns threw a bit of the fun his way.
“Donald O’Brien, he’s the fellow who I allowed to beat me in this race,” Hanns said. “And you notice I didn’t pick any six-footer of the job,” he continued, to chuckles from the audience.
County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin present Hanns with a plaque recognizing Hanns’ 24 years of service, and FireFlight helicopter medic Roy Longo gave Hanns a FireFlight baseball cap. A montage of pictures of Hanns from over the years played on the TV screens in the commission chambers.
Hanns, who brings a digital camera and tripod to county events, gathered the crowd together for a group picture in the final minutes before the ceremony ended and his last County Commission meeting began.
“When you do hear things from time to time about people in elected positions doing things improper, I have never experienced that in 24 years in Flagler County,” Hanns said. “We really have a good thing going in Flagler County and I hope it continues.”
