By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
When Ron Lutz retired from his career as a Field Audit Supervisor for the State of Ohio, he wasn’t ready to quit working completely. He accepted a position as an internal auditor with the Ohio Veterans Home before deciding to scale back to part-time work.
His decision to scale back brought him to the side of hundreds of scales across the area when Seneca County Auditor Julie Adkins hired him as the county’s Weights and Measures Inspector. On Jan. 31, Lutz will retire and enter a new season of a slower life.
Lutz said the transition to Weights and Measures Inspector was made easier by his familiarity with Seneca County. His work as Field Audit Supervisor for the state gave him many connections in the county.
“I was familiar with the county,” Lutz said.
Lutz was surprised by the scope of the work when he began the job. He thought he would focus mostly on gas stations, but he oversaw about 300 scales in the county, including 37 truck scales and gas pumps at 34 gas stations.
“It was a little more than I thought when I first started. When I thought of the position, I thought of gas stations, but I do everything from delis to wrestling scales to scales to weigh animals at the county fair and the Attica Fair. During my time here, new things came up, like scales for chicken wings and coffee.”
Lutz said, of all the things he liked best about the job, he liked the people best.
“Auditor Adkins has been wonderful, and her staff has been great to work with,” Lutz said. “I got to meet a lot of people in the field and at the service companies, and I enjoyed working with them as well.”
In turn, Lutz has been a positive representative of the county.
“I had the pleasure of hiring Ron Lutz as a Weights and Measures Inspector on May 6, 2013. He has taken that department to a whole new level. We now know what a Department of Weights and Measures can be. He set the standard high,” Auditor Adkins said. “He is well-known and respected by the businesses in Seneca County. His colleagues across the state have the utmost admiration for him.”
Adkins is sorry to see Lutz leave the department.
“He has truly been an asset to the Seneca County Auditor’s Office and will be missed,” Adkins said.
Lutz is walking away with a lot of gratitude for the job he is leaving behind. During the Jan. 30 commissioners’ meeting, he thanked Auditor Adkins for the privilege of working for her, the Seneca County Commissioners for their continual support, Seneca County Building and Grounds Maintenance Supervisor John Logsdon for his help through the years, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture for providing the equipment and resources to do his job well.
“I want to thank God that I could do this because sometimes it’s a little tough when it’s 90 degrees and you’re lifting gas out there,” he said.
Because Lutz has only worked part-time, he doesn’t anticipate that his life will be very different in retirement.
“My job was only two days a week, so I don’t see my life changing too much,” he said.
He will continue to travel and be active in his church.
“That’s what will take up my time, but mostly, I’ll have more time with my family,” he said.
Auditor Adkins hired Derek Burns as the new Weights and Measures Inspector. Hopefully, he will enjoy the job as much as Lutz did.
“I want to thank Auditor Adkins for the opportunities I had. I’ve enjoyed working for the residents of Seneca County,” Lutz said.