Saluda residents witnessed the swearing in of new board of commission members at the monthly Saluda BOC meeting Monday, Dec. 12.

Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden welcomed Lynn Cass as a new member to the council and thanked outgoing commissioner John Morgan for his service. Leon Morgan was also sworn in for another term.

John Morgan took a moment to talk to residents before leaving his post at the commission table.

“It was an honor and a pleasure to serve as commissioner in this town,” Morgan said. “My goal originally, when I got elected, was to get started on some projects I thought this town was long overdue on.”

Morgan said he felt some of those projects, including city hall renovations, are now really on their way.

“It’s very gratifying to drive down the street and see how it looks now,” Morgan said.

City administrator Erny Williams said he appreciated Morgan’s dedication to several of these projects, including struggles with the town’s aging water system.

“I would like to take the time to thank Mr. Morgan,” Williams said. “John, from my standpoint you helped me numerous times with ordinances and with Henderson County and I’d like to thank you for that.”

Morgan said he, Williams and Rodney Gibson have all worked diligently to solve issues of aging water works infrastructure and high water bills.

Morgan left with a charge to the new board of commissioners to fervently pursue the lowering of property taxes for residents.

Joining the commission as a new member is Lynn Cass. Cass has been a member of the Saluda Historical Commission and made quick work of getting approval for the funding required to create a new logo for the effort. The council approved $125 from the Historical Saluda Committee and$125 from the oral history project for the new logo.

Commissioner George Sweet, meanwhile, was inducted as the new mayor pro-tem for the City of Saluda.

At the end of the meeting Mayor Baisden also read aloud the official state-certified election results, which were approved Nov. 15. Those results showed Lynn Cass gaining 159 votes, Leon Morgan grabbing 148 votes and John Morgan earning 106 votes.