Melanie’s Accomplishments

Melanie has improved the community in tangible ways in her first 8 years serving on Grandview Heights City Council, and she will continue to bring the same energy and integrity to her service if re-elected on November 4.

Melanie is proud to have introduced and passed legislation to put clean energy aggregation on the ballot in Grandview Heights. With strong support from Grandview voters, this allowed our city to go to the energy marketplace on behalf of residents and businesses to purchase Renewable Energy Credits. After the first year of the program, Grandview was able to achieve significant savings for residents while securing a 100% renewable energy supply. This program makes Grandview a leader among peer cities in Ohio.

Melanie strongly believes the city council should aim to lower barriers of entry for folks wishing to join our community. That’s why she co-sponsored legislation that prohibits discrimination based on a person’s source of income when they seek rental housing in our community. This legislation passed and is an important step toward making Grandview more inclusive.

In 2018 and 2019, Melanie advocated for paid family leave for city employees which resulted in the administration putting in place the first ever paid parental leave policy for Grandview Heights city employees. 

Melanie has advocated for a healthier environment and safe drinking water in Grandview. In collaboration with Sustainable Grandview, Melanie wrote a policy memo recommending that the city take action to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of toxic coal-tar sealants on driveways and parking lots in our community.  Melanie has also advocated for the city to accelerate lead service line replacement.

Melanie coordinated outreach to former State Rep Boggs and Senator Hearcel Craig to request funding from the state capital budget (2020-2021) for a multi purpose trail in the South of Goodale development. The funding came through and this trail serves to better connect Grandview Heights to the new crew stadium, Arena district, and the regional trail network.

In 2020, Melanie authored a resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis in Grandview Heights. The resolution received support from the Grandview Heights Board of Health and was passed unanimously by council. Melanie also led a “Year of Racial Justice Learning” workgroup, working with community members and the Grandview Heights library to produce community forums on racial justice.