Hi –  My name is Erika Coble. I am the current Councilperson for Ward Four in Berea. As I am on the ballot for the November 2023 election, this would be my second term in office.  

Ward Four is unique because several areas of the Berea community intersect in this district. This includes the downtown business district, the college district, downtown neighborhoods, the Fairgrounds, and Coe Lake Park.

For my first term in office, I am actively engaged as Councilperson in service to the Ward Four community. For my committee work I serve on the Shade Tree Commission an am actively engaged in that role. Since I have been in office, on most days, I receive about 2 to 3 people contacting me about things that need to be addressed in the community.  I am responsive to that feedback and work to get those areas of concern addressed as quickly as possible.  Typically, the City is helpful and supportive in addressing the needs of the community. In instances where the City cannot help, I work with community members to come up with other creative ways to address those concerns. Based on regular feedback from and working the Ward Four community, I see trends in areas where we spend most of our attention.  These include –

-Working on BW student rental properties, and increasingly airbnb rental properties.  Questions regularly arise, such as – who is responsible for the properties?  Is it the neighbors?, the City?, or the property owners themselves? 

-The importance of meeting regularly with BW in community meetings

-Working with the Fairgrounds (90% of the County Fairgrounds is located in Berea) to cultivate a neighborly relationship in our community – not to be as separate and autonomous entities

-Parking and noise complaints – staying on top of 

-Supporting downtown businesses 

-The importance of having a good working relationship with the City Administration and City Council on behalf of serving the Ward Four community

-Cultivating our working together as community to achieve progress in addressing the issues that impact our community

-Advocating for initiatives that support environmental flourishing of earth’s resources in Ward Four