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ALBANY, GA. -- Dougherty County employees held a retirement party for Commissioner Lingle after Monday’s commission meeting.

Speaker after speaker commented on how important and influential Dr. Charles Lingle has been on the Dougherty County commission.  And after Monday’s commission meeting, Dr. Lingle says he's focused on retirement...even though he doesn't know what that means.  “It's a work in progress!  My wife is having some input, my children, and my grandchildren are having input on what I should do” says Lingle. 

Even though Dr. Lingle won’t be on the board, he’ll still be involved with the Hospital Authority. 

He even took time to give some advice to Ewell Lyle, the man who will take his spot on the commission to represent district four.  He told him that communication is the key.  “He told me I need to have a ‘second’.  You can make a motion, but you better be communicating with your fellow commissioners to make sure that they know what you’re about to introduce so you can have some support and someone will second your motion” says Lyle.

During his 8 years on the Dougherty County Commission Dr. Lingle served with 4 different groups of commissioners.  Current Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard says he’s made a great contribution to Dougherty County.  “He brings great respect to this community. He has been on numerous statewide boards that have allowed so many people to see that we have good folks in Dougherty County.  And he is an example of those good folks.  So we're going to deeply miss him, and we wish him the best in his retirement” says Sinyard.