Long-time Berea City Councilmember Ronnie Terrill has resigned from the Council. The move comes after a disagreement with Mayor Bruce Fraley, according to Terrill.
In an exclusive interview with The Edge, Terrill said the dispute began last Monday when he’d reported a downed branch across Hwy 21 where it bends along the shared use path about half a mile before the Forestry Outreach Center. Days later, Terrill said the branch was still in the road, so he put it in the back of his Silverado and drove it to City Hall, where he left it out front.
In between his gesture of disapproval and his initial reporting of the downed branch to the Public Works Department, Terrill said he repeatedly tried to get a hold of the “second in command” at the department, after the head of the department, Roy Curtis, would not return Terrill’s calls.
When a reporter expressed surprise about his decision because of how in times past he has expressed how much he enjoys representing Bereans, Terrill said, “I do love this job, but how can I stay on Council if I am not allowed to actually do my job?” Terrill has been an incumbent since winning election in 2018. He confirmed that this is the only time he has encountered push back when he tried to call in a problem, which he has done frequently over his tenure on Council.
Terrill said he went to the Public Works Department in person and asked what was happening. He would not say who told him that the department had been instructed not to take his calls.
Terrill said he then brought his complaint to Fraley, whom Terrill said responded by saying he needed to talk to Curtis to get the whole story. But Terrill said he believes Fraley is the one who instructed Curtis and the rest of the Public Works employees to ignore his call. “Me and him got into a little argument,” he said about the conversation.
According to state statute, in a mayor-council municipal government such as Berea’s, only the mayor is allowed to direct department heads in their respective duties. Councilmembers are prohibited from giving direction. “But when I can’t call in something about it—the thing is, if I see something that is wrong, then I call it in. And something has to be done about it,” he said in the interview.
Terrill said he knew this but was mad about it anyway because nothing was happening with the road obstruction until he got involved. He also opined that during the ice storm last winter, the City did not adequately address the impassable sidewalks.
When a reporter suggested Terrill might be overreacting since it was only a one-time event, he doubled down. “I’ve known Bruce since he was in diapers, but I’m gonna back Ricky [Clontz] for mayor,” he said.
“I am sad to see Ronnie resign because he’s dedicated to serving the citizens of Berea and he takes his job seriously,” Fraley told The Edge in a phone interview.
Terrill also said he will keep his name on the ballot for November but will not campaign. “If people want me back, they will vote for me,” he said.
Terrill’s replacement has yet to be announced, but his resignation will be formally announced this evening during Council’s second regularly scheduled Council meeting of the month. Terrill is the third Council member this year to be replaced. Previously, Cora Jane Wilson and Steve Davis resigned and were replaced by Barry Poynter and Mike Barnett respectively.
This syndicated story is copyrighted by The Edge, a locally owned and operated independent newsroom in Berea, Kentucky. All rights reserved. For more information, visit theedgebereaky.com.
