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BENWOOD -- After 32 years of addressing issues pertaining to flood walls, planning holiday parties for children and pressing for the demolition of the ever-present Bellaire Bridge, Ed Kuca is retiring from public office.
Kuca, 73, who has served as Benwood's mayor since 2003, will not seek re-election this year. Kuca was first elected to Benwood City Council in 1988, and served 15 years on council.
"I just decided it was time," he said. "My daughter (Jennifer) lives in Georgia, and I want to spend time with her and her husband. I'm not going to move away. I'll just be down in Georgia."
Kuca worked 37 years at the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel's plant in Beech Bottom before retiring in 2003.
That is when former Benwood Mayor Larry Ferrera decided he wouldn't seek election, and Kuca saw an opportunity for a job in retirement.
"I needed to keep busy. It was a good thing to do," he said.
But Kuca first had to get the blessing of two people in the community. The first was his wife, Gerry. The second was Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell, who has served as chief since 1984.
"I've always had a good relationship with the police department," he said. "Chief Longwell and I always have worked well together. That's one of the reasons why I have enjoyed the job."
Seeing that Benwood's flood wall was operational has been a major part of Benwood's duties.
"The flood wall is very important to city," he said.
Then there is the edifice that's become the infamous symbol of Benwood -- though it is named for Benwood's neighbor on the Ohio side of the Ohio River. The privately-owned Bellaire Bridge, closed since the early 1990s, continues to stand and be a safety concern in the city.
"I was hoping I would see that bridge come down," Kuca said. "I really thought it was going to happen."
In 2004, then U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, placed into a federal transportation bill money to take down the Bellaire Bridge.
The request later was withdrawn as the public questioned why public money should be used to remove a privately-owned structure.
Bellaire businessman Roger Barack owned the bridge at that time. The bridge is currently owned by KDC Investments and Delta Demolition through Krystle and Lee Chaklos, who purchased the bridge in 2010 with intent to take it down and recycle the metal.
"It was almost a reality. Then the complications came with its being privately owned," Kuca said. "Without governmental money, the bridge is only worth about $1 million in metal. It would cost $3 million to take down. No contractor would take it on."
Most recently, Benwood officials have floated the idea of taking responsibility for the bridge and removing only the sections of the structure that stand over land in Benwood. They have estimated the cost to do so at $800,000, and might ask Benwood voters in a special election whether they should spend public dollars to do the work.
"We are still working on different things," Kuca said. "It might happen someday with governmental money."
He said there were many happy times as mayor, including the annual Christmas parties for Benwood's children he and council organize each year. There also are events in the city to commemorate Memorial Day, and a children's parade and party each Halloween.
"I've had a good life," Kuca said. "I have a lot of good relatives, and a lot of support from the community," he said. "There's no doubt about that."
Council members Chuck Terry and Walter Yates have filed to run for mayor on the May 12 election ballot.