Hess a prime example of public service done well
When we think about public service done well here in Butler County, Mary Hess comes to mind.
Hess, who serves as the Lancaster Township manager, recently stepped down from her role as a borough councilwoman in Zelienople. Hess served on borough council for more than a decade.
Serving on a council or board of supervisors is often a tough, but important job. Those elected leaders shape the futures of their communities.
Hess has no doubt left her mark on Zelienople. She served as council president for three of her 16 years in the role, and was one of the founding members of Zelienople Revitalization.
She helped the borough improve the look of Main Street by supporting facade grants to improve the appearances of storefronts along Main Street and more. She also was part of an ongoing project that redirects traffic away from Zelienople when seeing the community’s struggles with the sheer amount of vehicles traveling through the area regularly.
In 2023, Lancaster Township scooped her up, hiring her to be the township’s manager.
She’s played a prominent role in both communities since then, but now, she’s choosing to focus her energy on Lancaster at a time that it’s critical. The township is taking actions that would move its municipal center and police station to a new location.
Asked about the transition, Hess said she felt “really good” about how she’s leaving Zelienople.
This is as she should.
— TL
