Councilman stepping down, relocating

Avon Lake Third Ward Councilman Larry Meiners announced Feb. 26 he is stepping down by the end of March.

Meiners, a councilman since 2004, said he is relocating to the Phoenix area and is looking forward to year-long sunshine.

He expressed gratitude for the support from his constituents and Council colleagues.

“About a year ago, I began to look at moving my company from the Greater Cleveland area to a warmer climate,” said Meiners, who owns a packaging business. “And I think I found that climate in Phoenix.”

Meiners made the announcement to provide Council with ample time to appoint his replacement.

He currently chairs Council’s natural resources, environmental and public media committee in addition to serving as a member of the finance committee and Walker Road ad hoc committee.

“I don’t do good byes very well,” Meiners said. “I’ve had too many in my life; I don’t like them.

“I don’t look forward to them, and so, if I just quietly ease out of my chair one night, it’s not because I’m arrogant; it’s because I don’t like saying goodbye.

“I’ve been blessed, I’ve been honored. I’ve worked for two superb City Council presidents. You couldn’t ask for two nicer men, honest men than (Mayor) Greg (Zilka) and (Council President) Marty (Martin O’Donnell) and the members of this City Council and the prior city councils that I’ve worked with.”

Meiners also thanked former City Council members Mike Stanek and Jim Simonovich, who he said served as mentors to him following his election.

“They both knew by looking at me and listening to me, that I had no idea what the heck I was doing,” he said. “They became my mentors and I love them both. I can’t say enough about those two guys.”

O’Donnell thanked Meiners for his service to the city of Avon Lake and added more announcements are coming as Council goes through the process of finding a replacement.

“You’ve been here a long time, and you’ve been a colleague a long and I appreciate working with you,” O’Donnell said. “You’ve always spoken your mind and the representation of those residents in Ward 3.

“You’ve always put them first. You’ve served them well and I want to thank you for that.”

Meiners