When the Butler County Commission meets in July, it will have a new chairman.

On Sunday, Allin Whittle officially became chairman.

Frank Hickman had served as the commission chairman since September.

The change comes as a result of a measure that was passed in November of 2012, which created a rotating chairmanship.

Under the measure, each commissioner will serve a term of nine months and two weeks as chairman and another nine months and two weeks as vice chairman.

The rotation began with District 2, which is represented by Jesse McWilliams, and will circle back around to District 1, which is represented by Joey Peavy. The commission elected to start in District 2 in order to have the two most experienced commissioners in McWilliams and Hickman serve as the chairman for the first two terms of the rotation.

McWilliams had served as the chairman since 2004, prior to the commission voting to create a rotation of the chairmanship.