Recognizing a Retiring Leader
Vol. III, No. 197 - A trailblazing Township Trustee, Beth vanHaaren leaves Bethel Township after twenty years of service
December often brings reflection for local governments. It’s a time to look back—on what was accomplished, what fell short, and how communities have changed over the past year. For some elected officials, December also marks an ending. They attend their last meeting before stepping away, leaving behind years of service that shaped the life of their community.
In Bethel Township, that moment has come for Trustee Beth vanHaaren, who is retiring after more than twenty years of service. For me, her departure carries a personal note. I served as the first township administrator for Bethel Township between 2003 and 2006—a short three years filled with intensive change and a ton of progress. During that time, Beth played a big part in steering the township forward.
Beth’s path to the trustee’s seat was an unexpected one. In May 2005, longtime trustee Matthew Davis, a respected public servant and rural mail carrier, passed away suddenly. His death was a shock to the community, and it created a vacancy on the board that needed to be filled.
Beth applied for the open seat. At the time, she wasn’t the most obvious candidate. Yes, her family had deep roots in Bethel Township, but township government wasn’t exactly viewed as influential work. She’d already been active in the schools and community, but the township hall wasn’t where most of the local energy lived back then. Still, she impressed the other two trustees with her understanding of local issues and her clear, thoughtful way of communicating. She was appointed—and she never looked back. The voters later elected her to her first of five straight elections in the fall of 2005.
Over the next two decades, Beth became a steady and respected leader. During my time as township administrator, it was easy to blame nearby Huber Heights for many of Bethel’s challenges. The annexations and border changes of those years certainly disrupted life in the southeast corner of Miami County. But Beth pushed the township to look deeper. She reminded us that many of our challenges came from within—that growth and change were happening in Bethel itself, not just because of what was happening next door.
She was right. The township was expanding, with new homes on large lots, waterlines, and a growing fire department. A place that had stayed mostly the same for decades suddenly needed not just competent management, but strong leadership and long-term planning, Beth was there to help create the enviornment where those deeper discussions could take place.
At the time, the three trustees could not have been more different from one another, but under Beth’s influence, they found common ground. Together, they adopted the township’s first strategic plan, drafted a comprehensive land use plan, updated the zoning code, and created a capital improvement plan that set the stage for years of growth.
In every major discussion—and in the hardest decisions—Beth had a clear sense of purpose. She didn’t always agree with everyone around the table, but she made sure the conversation was grounded in facts and focused on the community’s long-term good.
Serving in township government is rarely easy. It’s a job that often comes with more criticism than praise. Trustees get blamed for decisions made far beyond their control, and the limits of Ohio law mean they can’t act unilaterally on issues like utilities or annexation. Much of township governance depends on cooperation—working with county, state, and neighboring city officials who don’t always share the same priorities.
Yet even with those challenges, there were real successes. One that stands out is the township’s partnership with the Five Rivers MetroParks system to protect key local land from development. That decision will benefit Bethel Township for decades to come.
As Beth steps down—and as other local leaders across the region do the same this month—it’s worth pausing to recognize their service. Local officials don’t do this work for recognition or reward. They do it because they care about their community and want to leave it stronger than they found it. For Beth vanHaaren and all those finishing their terms this December, thank you. Your work made the places we call home a little better.
Is there a retiring leader you want to recognize? Our paid subscribers are welcome to leave a comment telling us who they believe is a good leader that is going out on top.
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