By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.

J. Sam Burch will serve a five-year term and Therese A. Ocheltree a four-year term on Fayette's Board of Tax Assessors.

Previous terms on the three-member board expired Dec. 31, and members Marielyn Strickland and Doug Stanley declined to serve any more terms. Strickland has served 31 years on the board; Stanley 30 years.

Member Ken Spaller, who also has served 30 years, agreed to be reappointed to a six-year term.

Burch has 15 years experience as an appraiser specializing in residential appraisals. Ocheltree has been an appraiser 19 years, specializing in commercial work.

“We believe that the addition of these two individuals will not only bring fresh ideas and talent to the board, but also represents a superb balance of residential and commercial experience,” said county commissioners Linda Wells and Greg Dunn in a written recommendation to the full commission.

Wells and Dunn interviewed four candidates for the board, which assesses property values throughout the county for tax purposes.