New Concord Township Trustee John Wiertel has seen how his hometown has changed throughout his life. “On Aug. 16, 1977, my parents opened a grocery store in Concord, Ohio,” Wiertel said. “There was nothing here. I say this all the time. Hoose (Road) was tar and chip. There were very little hou ses, there was very little commercial land developed.” He has been involved in some of the growth since then. Now, Wiertel has been appointed to serve as one of the township’s three trustees. Trustees Carl Dondorfer and Amy Lucci selected him to fill a vacant seat at their Jan. 21 meeting. The seat was last held by Morgan McIntosh, who resigned on Jan. 7 to accept an appointment as the newest Lake County commissioner. McIntosh was present at the Jan. 21 meeting and administered Wiertel’s oath of office. “I always told our kids that local politics affects your life more than anything else, and I got to witness that firsthand on (the township’s) zoning commission, and I really got to witness it firsthand going through this process,” Wiertel said. He described his appointment as an honor and a calling. Describing himself as a man of faith, he said he believes that God has a plan for him and that there are reasons for everything that happens. “It’s an honor I’m willing to take and a calling that I’m willing to take because of the history that I have here,” Wiertel said. He said he will do what he believes is best for the township as a whole. As a trustee, Wiertel said he aims to recognize the township’s longtime businesses. He also wants community involvement with what comes next. “The people before me have done a great job getting us to this point,” he said. “I think we’re at that point where, ‘Where’s Concord going next?’ And I want to be a part of where Concord’s going next.” Concord Township trustees Amy Lucci, left, Carl Dondorfer and John Wiertel hold their Jan. 21 meeting, shortly after Wiertel was sworn in as the township's newest trustee. (Bryson Durst -- The News-Herald) Wiertel currently serves as president of Jaluki, Inc., which a township news release described as “a consulting firm offering services in business development, project management and strategic planning.” The release added that Wiertel is also a partner and helps lead at Terra Dorata Companies. “This rare earth mineral processing company specializes in extracting minerals from abandoned mine sites in Canada, where he oversees operational planning, financial oversight, governmental approvals, legislation management and legal coordination,” it said. Wiertel was also previously a partner and managing member at Hermitage Builders, the release said. He helped there with the development of the Little Mountain Country Club Golf Course Community. The news release added that he has also served as a director and board member for the Willoughby-based Fine Arts Association; St. Gabriel Parish Council; One Hope NEO, which helps the needy and immigrants arriving in Cleveland; and the Salt Water Warriors, which helps with veteran mental wellness. Wiertel was also a member of the Concord Township Zoning Commission and resigned before being appointed trustee. “John brings extensive experience in sales, marketing, business development, private equity and executive leadership to his new role,” the news release said. Dondorfer, Lucci and township Fiscal Officer John Patriarca all said that McIntosh left “big shoes to fill” upon resigning. The two trustees said that multiple talented people applied for the role. “John certainly has the experience,” Lucci said. “His construction management, his planning and strategic maneuvers make him an ideal candidate, especially as we move forward in building another fire station. His knowledge about not only zoning but anything in the township for being here so long will serve us very well as we look to expand our comprehensive plan.” She added that her decision was also influenced by Wiertel’s loyalty to his township, his family, himself and “in finding purpose to serve.” Dondorfer said that he has heard good feedback from township staff about Wiertel’s time on the zoning commission. “We knew it was going to come down to the right fit and chemistry because we had that with Morgan,” Dondorfer added. “We had a very good chemistry and not that the others didn’t present that, but we just felt with his experience and lifelong service in Concord that chemistry was going to be better suited with him on the board.” Township Administrator Andy Rose said that township trustees receive $26,050 annually. Wiertel’s term runs through the end of 2027. His seat will be up for election to a four-year term in the Nov. 2, 2027, general election. ...read more read less