MOUNT VERNON — Monday’s announcement that County Recorder Tanner Salyers will vacate his position on Friday left the Knox County commissioners little time to name an interim replacement.
Salyers starts a new position as Mount Vernon’s safety-service director on Monday. His last day in the recorder’s office is Friday.
Commissioner Teresa Bemiller said that in such situations, the person vacating a position recommends someone as an interim replacement.
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Salyers submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday. He recommended Deputy Recorder Tara Stiltner as interim recorder. Stiltner has 26 years with the recorder’s office.
Commissioners Bemiller and Thom Collier accepted the recommendation and made the appointment Tuesday. The appointment is effective Saturday, Oct. 14.
Collier chairs the Knox County Republican Party.
“The Republican Central Committee will meet Nov. 8 to appoint someone to fill out the remainder of Salyers’ unexpired term,” he said. “That person will then have to run for the position in the November 2024 election [if they want to retain the position].”
Stiltner is considering running for the recorder’s position. Salyers said she is incredibly knowledgeable about the documents and procedures.
“I’ve always leaned on her institutional knowledge when making decisions for the office, so she’s the natural fit for the role. She served in this capacity when John Lybarger resigned and I was appointed to replace him,” Salyers said.
Salyers said he already had a transition plan because he had planned to run for the county commissioner’s seat.
“We’ve been working on finishing a few projects and tying some loose ends together,” he said.
Salyers has been the county recorder since June 2021.
From county to city
Salyers said that when Bemiller announced she would not seek another term, he discussed the vacancy with several trusted leaders around the county.
“They agreed that Knox County was entering a critical time when tough decisions have to be made, and that I would be a respected choice for the job,” he said.
You should not, he said, take the job lightly or treat it as supplemental income.
“Knox County is the next frontier for housing and economic development for the ‘Silicon Heartland’ as America brings back entire industries from the grip of Communist China. That sounds hyperbolic, but it is absolutely true,” Salyers said. “And the next county commissioners, and truly all of our elected leaders, need to respect the gravity of the situation and the impact it can have.”
Salyers served on Mount Vernon City Council from 2019-21 and currently is the city’s recreation director.
With that background, he knew when the position of SSD became available that it was a major opportunity to work with the mayor and council and accomplish “big, bold things for Mount Vernon.”
And that, he said, would ultimately indirectly lift the rest of Knox County.
“By the nature of the structure of government, there is more to do, and you have the ability to do it quickly as the SSD,” he explained. “So I chose that route, made my case, and Mayor Starr agreed that I was the person that met the moment.”
Salyers’ motto is “effective, efficient, responsible and responsive.”
“That’s what we did in the recorder’s office, and that’s what we’ll do at the city,” he said.
“Ready to roll”
To those who suggest he might need more experience before tackling the role of safety-service director, Salyers said he has often been “the youngest person to ever…”
“I’m not shaken by that anymore,” he said. “I ran for school board when I was 18 and a senior in high school. At one point I was the youngest person offered agency by American Family Insurance in Ohio at age 22.”
He noted that he was among the youngest, if not the youngest, to serve on city council at age 28. At 30, he repeated that scenario.
“I was 30 when I became recorder, so I was likely one of, if not the youngest, county recorders Knox has ever had. And I was something like the third youngest in the state,” he said. “But, here we are.
“I’m ready to roll.”
Comfortable with what’s ahead
Salyers said he is comfortable with the tasks that lay ahead. In addition to his teaching background (government and economics) and private sector insurance experience, he has an MPA (Master’s of Public Administration).
“I am qualified and credentialed for this position,” he said.
During his tenure on city council, Salyers was involved with the makeup of the utilities commission and stormwater utility.
He was also involved with reorganizing the public works department, providing fire protection to College Township, and providing more resources and support to the police department.
“As recorder, we made major strides with the way citizens interface with the office, making it more modern and more transparent,” he said. “We tackled state law to lift the burdens of record retention rules from townships to benefit property owners and streamline processes.
“In the midst of a cyber attack, we were able to transition our service provider in a matter of days when the process typically takes months,” he continued. “I am confident in my abilities and I am excited to bring them to the city at this level.”
Salyers succeeds Richard Dzik, who left in September to take the city manager position in the Dayton suburb of Huber Heights.
“We’ve got a lot to do, but I’ve never been afraid of a little work,” Salyers said.
