Inspire, Spring 2012

Chartered in 1887, Cedarville was a dreamwaiting to become a reality. WhenWilliam Gibson passed away, he left two percent of his estate for the new college. That bequest allowed Cedarville to build Founders Hall and open its doors to students. Now 125 years later, your bequest will provide Christ-centered education for generations to come. Let the gift planning office help you discover how to leave your legacy! Your Bequest Your Legacy 1-800-766-1115 cedarville.edu/giftlegacy I’m learning what it takes to staff a police force and just how difficult it is to find and retain qualified, dedicated police officers for smaller municipalities. I am a firm believer that your town is only as good as your police force, and the chief of police is that foundation. I’ve also learned that given the choice to hear me or the chief of police speak at an event, the chief wins every time. We joke about it, but he assures me that it’s because he’s the one with the badge and the gun. I never realized all of the pieces that have to come together to keep basic utilities working, even in a town as small as ours. It’s clear to me now how important it is to have a long-term plan that keeps citizens at the center of what we do. We recently invested $3 million into a sewer project that required a 38 percent increase in our sewer rates over a two-year period. As you can imagine, this placed a great financial burden on our citizens over a short period of time. But if the administration had planned five or 10 years ahead, we could have developed incremental rate structures that didn’t overburden our residents. “Let’s look at one another.” The people of New Haven are certainly the highlight of my job. I love to see the faces of elementary children when they visit town hall for a tour. They ask some great questions that keep me on my toes. Each year, my administration and I participate in Read to Me Day at the school, which is simply priceless. This past year I was asked for my autograph! The sincere appreciation from senior residents is another highlight. Of everyone, they are the most appreciative when I take the time to personally meet with them or return their phone calls. The looks on their faces is thanks enough. I make it a point to try and communicate face-to-face as much as possible with citizens and my administration. Working full time at AEP makes scheduling appointments a little tricky, but I’ve made it a priority never to miss one. People are worth more than a phone call, and in today’s world they appreciate when I can make them feel like more than just a number. I want them to have a face to put with the name, and I want them to feel that I am accessible. I appreciate the feedback citizens give me. They’re as much a part of this town as I am, and we need everyone’s involvement to make the community run well. Though it’s difficult to communicate with everyone, we have a great group of concerned citizens who faithfully attend council meetings and let their voices be heard. “Nice town, y’know what I mean?” In January, I filed to run for another term, so my re-election campaign has begun. I naturally look to the future of this town and hope to keep it a great place for parents to raise their children. I hope to give it autonomy so that no matter who sits in town hall, New Haven will run smoothly. The memories of my life growing up here, the years I’ve spent working in this place, the community that defines New Haven life — that’s what keeps me here and makes New Haven the place we all love. A vibrant future requires a good mayor who knows the history of his town. Recently, I asked the town workers to restore two traffic lights that had hung in town for years. The old lights now hang on the porch at town hall. It’s a reminder of where we came from and where we’re going. George Gibbs ’89 is the mayor of New Haven, West Virginia, and unit operator for American Electric Power. He has not missed a Cedarville homecoming since 1985. You may contact him at gwgibbs@ymail.com . “The people of New Haven are certainly the highlight of my job.”