Village Administrator Joe Miller: Leading a life of service in Southeast Ohio
October 1, 2026
By Alyssa Zuesi
After decades of public service, South Zanesville Village Administrator Joe Miller, at the age of 68, says he is busier now than he has ever been as he lives his life to serve the greater good. In reference to his motivation for public service, Miller said, “It is something that becomes ingrained, and once it’s in you, it doesn’t go away.”
Path to Village Administration
Miller started his journey in the public sector at the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office shortly after graduating college. There, he went up the ranks and retired as captain. Retirement did not last long for him, however. He ended up going back to work as Noble County’s chief deputy per the recommendation of several peers. He once again retired in 2017 as a colonel. Shortly after his second retirement, he was asked to work on evidence for South Zanesville and took the job. After roughly four years in the role, he was appointed to serve as village administrator and has now been in this role for a year, while still also working in evidence and as a grant writer.
Accomplishments
When asked about his public-sector accomplishments, there were many impressive feats to note. Most important to Miller, though, were his relationships. “I can tell you that at every place I’ve ever worked, I feel that one of my greatest accomplishments is I’ve made friends,” Miller said emotionally. He even holds a strong rapport with individuals that he has had to arrest in the past. He cites that his strengths in maintaining these relationships come from treating people how you would want to be treated and never lying.
Other accomplishments include rewriting the HR manual for the police department, and then doing so for the entire village. Miller has also written multiple grant applications and has been successful in receiving many. One recent example is an AARP grant. Out of 5,000 applicants, they gave out 200, and Miller was lucky enough to receive one. He attributes his skill set for grant writing and policymaking to his time in law enforcement. Having to articulate in great detail for police reports developed his writing skills.
Looking at South Zanesville
South Zanesville holds a special place in Miller’s heart. He values how trustworthy, respectful, and kind the citizens are.
He also points out that, “everything that anybody would ever need is here, and if it’s not right in the village, it’s close.”
While keeping its small-town charm, the village is also ever evolving with new projects in the works. The village has just completed further developing its largest park, even holding a dedication ceremony for the park earlier this month. They also just completed renovating their old tennis court into a six-court pickleball court.
The biggest upcoming project is still in infant stages but is the complete redoing of the water system with the assistance of grants and the EPA. Many of the current water lines are 75 years old and are no longer in good condition, so this project will be largely impactful on village functionality.
Moving Forward with Gratitude and Wisdom
At the end of his current contract, Miller anticipates having his final retirement. This will not be an ending for Miller’s community-oriented involvement though, as he lives locally, wants to stay in-the-loop, and holds his deep love for Southeast Ohio dear.
In closing, Miller emphasized factors that have gotten him to where he is today. He cited his strong connections with others, the three values of dedication, honesty and integrity, and the Mayor’s Partnership for Progress, stating, “I can honest to god say that I’ve come away from every single MPP meeting that I’ve been to, I’ve learned something.”
