It's the end of an era in Cape Canaveral: After about 30 years with the city — including 18 as the mayor — Rocky Randels will retire Tuesday.
Randels has become a popular figure on the Space Coast through his work on the City Council and within the community.
He has become known for devoting much of his free time helping residents. He even has an extra mailbox at his home just for requests from Cape Canaveral residents.
No job is too tough for Randels. The 78-year-old mows lawns, removes dead peacocks, supplies the local park restroom with toilet paper and even has cleared a drain at a resident's house on Thanksgiving.
"Daily, I pick up my little want notes, you know, 'What are you doing here? And can you do this?' " Randels said. "They're important for residents, and that's what it's all about. I'm not that smart; I just listen to them."
Randels said complications from cataract surgery earlier this year are forcing him to retire.
Over his three decades in city government, he's witnessed a lot of changes. Cape Canaveral used to be dependent on the space industry. Now, it's a city that thrives on tourism and cruise ships.
"We're in great shape," he said. "We've got more than $9 million in reserves, we got one hotel almost finished, (and) we got another new one coming. We're just working on a lot of good stuff."
The city has also been able to lower property taxes twice this year, Randels said.
Bob Hoog will become the new mayor at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.
Randels said even though he won't be mayor any longer, he still wants to help residents and improve relationships between Brevard County and the other cities.