Ward 5 Representative Heather Rhoades announced at the regular meeting Monday that she will be stepping down from her position on council because of a recent health diagnosis.
“I cannot tell you how hard this decision has been for me,” Rhoades said. ” I have been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, and during these difficult times I feel it is best to focus my energies on my family.”
Rhoades was elected to council in the fall of 2017. The Ward she has represented generally includes the neighborhoods surrounding Ellenwood Recreation Center and also most of the area of downtown Bedford. One of her major projects has been working with the Bedford Downtown Alliance, which is a non-profit organization that has the goal to “preserve and revitalize downtown businesses and to bring the community together.”
“It’s been my honor and my pleasure to represent all of you out there on council,” Rhoades said. “I only wish I could do more for you. Thank your for giving me the opportunity to make Bedford a better place for all of us. I hope that all of you out there will continue to work and volunteer to make Bedford the kind of place that we all want to live and thrive in.”
Mayor Stan Koci expressed sadness at the news, but also praised Rhoades for her work on council. “You have done a great job for your residents in Ward 5 and for the city,” he said. “I want to thank you for that.”
According to city guidelines, council is required to choose a replacement for the Ward 5 seat until Rhoades’ term expires in the fall. Koci said council will discuss these plans at the next executive session.
In other council news, City Manager Mike Mallis and Ward 3 Representative Victor Fluharty both wished to express their thanks to the employees in the Bedford Service Department for all of their work during December. Whether it was the plowing during the big snow earlier in the month, or during the storm around Christmas, they said the roads were cleared, and people were able to get where they needed to go. Mallis even mentioned how, in-between the storms, the department was able to get the chipper back out and take care of branches and also continue with the leaf gathering.
Koci and the rest of the council congratulated Clerk of Council Tracy Simons on being appointed to the Board of Directors of the Ohio Clerks Association. Simons said she is really excited about that opportunity as it gives her a stepping stone in earning her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation. Simons was hired as clerk for Bedford in September 2019 after working for a number of years as clerk in Eastlake.
“I am always so happy to see when our people step up and go above-and-beyond what they need to do every day,” said Koci about Simons’ appointment. “Tracy, I am so glad you are stepping up and moving up in your profession because, not only will it help you personally, but it will help us as a council and as a city.”
During her report, Rhoades said the Bedford Downtown Alliance is planning it’s Chocolate Walk for February and is looking for volunteers. She said that anyone interested can email: stories@BedfordDowntown.org, and the group would be happy for the help.
