Craig Lutz was sworn into his spot as South Hall’s county commissioner Monday morning, and he’s ready to start tackling challenges this week.

“This is an exciting time for Hall County, Georgia and the United States, and we have the opportunity at this time to do some things to put the county back on the right horse to make it stronger for our children and grandchildren,” Lutz said to a group of 50 in the courthouse annex. “This is a critical time, and there’s a lot I want to do.”

That includes making a move on three controversial topics the commission has faced recently — location of the Clermont library, plans for Cool Springs park and fair South Hall sewer rates.

“The first two we’re going to tackle on Thursday, and the sewer rates will take another week or two to address,” Lutz said. “I’ve had the fortune to be able to work with the other incoming commissioner (Scott Gibbs) and Commissioner Ashley Bell to try to map out some things that we, or at least I, had made campaign promises about.”

Lutz, Gibbs and Bell announced Nov. 11 they would hold an emergency meeting Jan. 6 to reverse the vote taken by the commission that day to approve a $9.73 million contract for the construction of the combination park, community center and library on Nopone Road.

The commission also will discuss the possibility of suspending the Cool Springs park project, which is planned on donated land in northwest Hall.

“I think we’ll see dancing in the first few sessions,” Lutz said. “I think the current county commission was doing everything they could to ram as much through in a lame duck style, to get as much in before we got in to do what we felt like the voters have put us in office to do.”

State Court Judge Gene Roberts swore in Lutz with two oaths of office, followed by a small reception. Lutz was officially sworn into office by a probate judge in December, as required by law.

Lutz resigned from the Flowery Branch City Council post to run for the county commission seat and beat incumbent Bobby Banks and Democratic opponent Paul Wayne Godfrey.

“It’s exciting to finally be here. It’s been a long road,” Lutz said. “I think the only person who was more surprised than Commissioner Banks when I won the primary was me. It was an uphill battle ... but the citizens of Hall County came out and we had higher numbers in the runoff than we did in the primary.”

Lutz said officials should strengthen ethics, transparency and communication with their constituents.

“It’s important to maintain open dialogue as we move forward,” he said. “I can only lead where you want me to go. I look forward to serving for the next four years and working with each and every one of you.”

City and county employees attended the ceremony, including fellow Hall County commissioners and Gainesville City Council members. Commissioner-elect Gibbs will be sworn in this morning at 9:30 in the courthouse annex.

“I’ve gotten to know Craig since he started with the Flowery Branch City Council, and I’m looking forward to working with him again,” Mayor Pro Tem Danny Dunagan said.

With experience in a municipality office, Lutz can help repair relationships with Hall County’s smaller cities, Bell said.

“I think he’ll help mend the bridges with the cities that we’ve lost connections with, and he’s already been working hard the last couple of months to hit the ground running. He won’t need much on-the-job training,” Bell said. “He’s a great addition to the commission. He’s extremely intelligent, extremely thoughtful and someone who takes the time to think about the issues.”