Medina News

Medina’s Newest Councilman Hits the Ground Running                                                                                         

Medina, Ohio: Medina’s new Ward 1 Councilman Chet Simmons wasted no time in getting to work. Mayor Hanwell swore him in on Wednesday, February 12, so he could officially begin working for his constituents.  His ceremonial swearing-in will be at the next City Council meeting on February 24. 

In addition to his duties as Ward 1 Councilman, Simmons will be chairing the Water & Utilities Committee, and serving on the Special Legislation and Streets & Sidewalks Committees. No stranger to City Council, he previously served as Ward 1 Councilman from 1990 through1997.
Simmons is a graduate of Highland High School and has a BA in Business from Otterbein College. His business career in Medina started at Plasti-Kote, Co. were he worked for twenty years. That company is now Spray Products.  He later became Controller for Ryerson Steel Company in Streetsboro.  At that time, Ryerson had 125 facilities worldwide.

Now retired, Simmons, a former Eagle Scout, has continued to be very involved in volunteering in the community.  He was in the Charter Class of Leadership Medina County and is still an active alumnus.  He is the City of Medina’s representative to the Medina County Planning Committee, he sits on the Cemetery Commision, and is a former member of the Medina County Historical Society Board of Trustees. He currenting sits on the Friends of the Cemetery (Medina) Board of Trustees, and serves on the Friends of Medina County Parks Board, where he will be chairing the committee that is overseeing the renovations of the Brown/Trump House on East Washington Street.  He is in his second year as president of the Breakfast Kiwanis, and volunteers for Main Street Medina, Feeding Medina County, and the Medina Town Hall & Engine House Museum.

Chet and Jan, his wife of 47 years, live on West Washington Street in one of the historic sister houses. He likes Ward 1 because of its diversity.  “It has historic housing stock, workforce housing, highly successful commercial establishments, an award- winning museum, and a strong manufacturing sector.  I would like to see it become more walkable and pedestrian friendly,” he added.  “When it comes to city issues, I will be a strong advocate for Ward 1.”  Constituents can reach out to Simmons at [email protected].