By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The woman who has kept many a City Council in line is finally passing the torch to the next generation. Regina Zornes, long-time Council Clerk for the Bucyrus City Council, attended her last council meeting Tuesday night. In just nine days, Zornes will retire from the city after 25 ½ years of service.
“(She) has done an absolutely outstanding job for the city,” said Council President Sis Love, who has worked closely with Zornes for a number of years.
Current City Council members couldn’t praise Zornes enough for the work she has done.
“She’s sort of the backbone here,” said Councilman Dan Wirebaugh, who will also be leaving the Council at the end of the year. “She knows the ins and outs and she’ll be missed.”
The diminutive Zornes, who had kept a firm handle on the Council, teared up as the Council members each took a turn in thanking her for all she had done.
Councilman Steve Pifer notoriously waited until the last minute to turn in his committee meeting reports and apologized to Zornes for not getting them turned in on time. But, “that’s no longer going to be a problem for you,” Pifer said with a cheeky grin.
“You certainly helped me when I was new to Council and I think you helped all of us,” said Mayor Roger Moore. “You have out did (sic) yourself and you have our loyalty for years to come. As a past Council president I can tell you there is a wealth of knowledge that this lady is taking out the door with her and I know you will be a phone call away because for the administrations for the past and the present and for the Council presidents past and present, she has—and I think this has already been said—you are the backbone. You hold it all together when things don’t seem right.”
Moore joked that once Zornes starts her retirement, her husband will have bathroom breaks on time and paperwork will be filled out properly and, if it’s not, she will tell him about it.
“It’s been super great working for the Council over the years,” Zornes said. “We’ve had good laughs; we’ve had some difficult times.”
Though Zornes has enjoyed the job over the past 25 years, she said it will be a bit of a relief not to have to be at City Hall and attend Council meetings twice a month.
“I’ll miss it but on these cold snowy nights I can stay in the warm and curl up with a good, warm blanket,” Zornes said with her trademark chuckle.
“I know I will miss it. It’s been a pleasure working with everyone. I think back at the good times we’ve had together,” said Zornes.
Zornes doesn’t have any major plans for retirement but she does plan on spending more time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
“It’s more or less just spending everyday life like we’ve been doing,” Zornes said, adding in a near-conspiratorial whisper and a grin, “except it won’t be quite so busy.”
Kelli Tuttle will be taking over as Zornes’ successor. Tuttle, who has been training with Zornes for over two months now, said she will have gigantic shoes to fill with Zornes’ absence.