Reid resigns from council position

A teary-eyed Heather Reid announced her resignation from her Ward 4 Place 2 council position at the end of the May 18 meeting. A council member since 2012, Reid is moving out of Homewood to a family farm in Corner, Alabama.

“It was just the right time for our family,” Reid said. She said her family had originally planned to move to the farm when she and her husband retired. There were "a lot of reasons" that made them decide to move sooner. Reid and her husband have an 18-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son, .

Council chairman Bruce Limbaugh presented a resolution recognizing her service, and her fellow council members spoke about her tireless service to her ward citizens.

“I have a lot of respect for someone putting her family in front of her love for our community,” Limbaugh said. “You’ve had some truly thoughtful advice in the last two and a half years, and for that I’m truly grateful.”

Reid said she has loved debating and finding a solution to problems. Disagreeing, she said, can be a good thing and has not prevented her respect or friendship for other council members.

“I can’t list all the things [I’m going to miss],” Reid said. “The process of working to an agreement is the part that I love.”

She added that she had known many council and city officials long before she was elected.

“I’m leaving behind long-time friendships,” Reid said. “I don’t really view it as leaving behind because I’m only about 25 minutes away.”

Other council members shared their thoughts on her resignation:

“It’s all about relationships. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to get to know me,” Ward 1 Place 2 Representative Britt Thames said.

“You work tirelessly for your ward and I respect you,” Ward 3 Place 1 Representative Walter Jones said. “You’re always welcome to come back. We love you, Heather.”

“She is probably the sole reason I’m sitting where I am right now,” Ward 4 Place 1 Representative Barry Smith said. “I just hope that I and whoever is selected to fill her spot can do half the good work that she has done.”

Reid’s spot is officially vacant and the city will be accepting applications through June 8, with interviews to be set for the following week. Contact city clerk Linda Cook at 332-6107 for more information.