District 3 Commissioner Karen Bosch had worked on local government campaigns and had been a member of the county’s zoning board of appeals before joining the commission eight years ago.

When Bosch was elected to the commission, the county’s emergency services were an important issue to her, she said.

“When I came in, the fire department and EMS were falling apart. I kind of took that under my wing and pushed for more money and pushed to promote from within. It’s kind of like the Braves; we went from last to first. We’ve gotten regional and statewide notoriety because of those changes,” she said.

She touted parks improvements as one of the top accomplishments of the county commission. The airport expansion was another important accomplishment during the last eight years, she added.

“Cherokee was behind in our parks, and we’ve really stepped up,” Bosch said, noting that quality of life improvements are important from a business standpoint and for individual families.

Bosch also said she is “really proud” of the county’s administrative building at The Bluffs and its LEED certification.

“We wanted to show companies and other governments what we can do using all the resources we can. Even through the way the building is positioned,” she said. The administration building has also allowed county residents to have a one-stop shop when it comes to permitting and licensing through the Development Services Center.

Bringing more professionalism to the board was another of Bosch’s goals during her time in office.

“I wanted the board to look professional and have businesses see us as something serious. That’s really been something for me since the very, very beginning,” she said.

As the only woman on the board, Bosch wanted to especially show that professionalism to girls and younger women.

“It was important for me to show young girls that you can do it,” she said.

Bosch said maintaining services while collecting less in revenue is the county’s most challenging issue.

“Property taxes are down, but all the services are still being provided,” she said. “It’s going to be a challenge until the economy starts moving at a faster pace.”

Transportation, she said, is another major issue.

“Without a doubt, that will always be our challenge,” she said. Bosch supported TSPLOST because of its regional approach to transportation improvements.

Bosch said she enjoyed helping constituents solve issues when they’ve been frustrated and needing help from the county.

“I liked taking those situations where a person has a problem, and working it all the way through the system,” she said.

Bosch did not run for a third term on the commission and plans to take a short break before jumping into other activities.

“I’m going to take a breath right now, but that usually doesn’t last,” she said. She plans to continue to work with Kevin’s Motorcycle Awareness Foundation, a foundation Bosch and her family started in honor of her late son Kevin Mahurin. The foundation recently earned a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to develop motorcycle safety activity books.

She is also working with the National Association of Journeymen Linemen.

“I may look at government service at some time in some form. I’ll be busy. I always am,” she said.

Bosch called her time on the commission “a great experience.”

“I’m pleased with where the county is. I think it’s one of the best places in the state to live,” she said.