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EAST LIVERPOOL--With one term as East Liverpool third ward's councilman under his belt, Jeff Kreefer has decided he isn't done serving yet. He currently is unopposed on the November ballot.
"I think East Liverpool is on its way back. I was born, raised and educated in this town and I like being part of it," he explained.
A 1976 graduate of East Liverpool High School and a former assistant city fire chief, he remembers telling his colleagues at the fire station that he was going to run for council when he left, and they encouraged him.
As chair of the Safety and Labor Committee of council, Kreefer looks by on his time as a member of the safety forces and said a lot has changed. "Both city fire and police chiefs are doing an excellent job with their departments, which are in better shape than they have been for years," he said, adding that he remembers a time when they didn't have enough money to fuel their fire trucks.
The city now is running profitable, but he does note what has become the standard acknowledgement of a councilman – East Liverpool needs more bodies on its road crews. "We do need the extra help," Kreefer explained.
East Liverpool is on its way up, and the downtown and development efforts are definitely better; however, he is quick also to applaud the efforts of Fire Chief Jones, which brought a highly successful ambulance partnership with ASI to residents. Each new hire that is added at the fire department now is a trained Emergency Management Technician, which can be added into the ambulance rotation with that day's salary picked up by ASI.
Though Kreefer is now considered retired, he has never really been. When he was still in high school, he started working in construction and continues to run his construction company, but he acknowledges that being a councilman rarely seems like work. After all, it gives him the opportunity to serve his community, which he really enjoys.
"I really take everyone's phone calls to heart and return them as quickly as possible," he said, adding his great responsibility to his to serve people.
And, lately he has had a lot more on his plate, as residents of his ward along St. Clair Avenue have been flooded due to the influx of rainfall, which have resulted in geyser-like efforts in many backyards. He explained that is more than just the Midway area and one homeowner affected.
"Ninety-five percent of the sewers and pipes in the city are probably terracotta," Kreefer said, adding the 70-year-old infrastructure can often be found deteriorating. Dallis Dawson and Mike Pusateri have already looked at it and have given the city potential solutions; however, residents are hesitant to trust city red tape to follow the job.
The retired firefighter shares his Parkway home with wife Julie, and the couple has two sons Sean and Scott.
Though councilmembers may have different paths to get there, he believes East Liverpool currently is made up of folks all focused on a common goal – the good for city. "This is an exciting time to be in the city and see the progress being made," he explained. "Who would have thought that the New Castle School of Trades would remodel two buildings in downtown and train people for industry.
"East Liverpool has switched from negative to a positive approach, and I am just happy to have a chance to serve the people."