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| History |
What is a Soil & Water Conservation District? A legally constituted unit of local government set up by the State Soil Conservation District Law; established through petition of landowners and by a majority vote of county residents. Therefore, a District is an independent subdivision of the State of Ohio, associated with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and funded by county and state taxes. The business of the district is conducted by an elected board of five landowners who serve three-year terms without pay. The purpose of a district is to help landowners work together and to provide technical assistance for solving soil and water conservation problems within the District boundaries. There are 88 conservation districts in Ohio and 3,000 nationwide. Medina County History The dust storms of 1935
paved the way for the birth of the Soil Conservation Service in our
Nation. Likewise, erosion
was a major concern for many citizens in the mainly agricultural Medina
County. A number of
organizations saw the need for improving and maintaining the
productivity of Medina County farms through proper land use and
conservation practices. As
a result, on June 3, 1944, the 28th District was organized in
Medina County. The purpose
of the District was to ensure that farmers, as a collective group, could secure
technical assistance in applying soil and water conservation practices
on the land. The newly elected Board
of Supervisors developed a work plan that dictated special emphasis be
placed on “proper land use.” Demonstration
plots were established to show good conservation and erosion control
practices. Such practices
included contour strip cropping, terraces, rotations, pasture
improvement, grassed waterways, forestry improvement and timber
management. Additionally,
the District was largely involved in the development of conservation
plans, reforestation, installation of field tiles, and even cost-share
programs for the planting of multiflora rose.
(Eventually, in 1987 the state would begin a program to help
landowners eliminate rose infestations).
Throughout the years,
our District has been growing and changing---along with the rest of the
County. Urbanization
of the County has brought about several new issues, which our office now
helps to address. |
| Mission Statement |
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To provide the Medina County community with education, guidance, and technical assistance that promotes the wise use of its soil and water resources. |
| MOTTO |
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Local leadership for soil and water conservation. |
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Personnel |
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Chairman Jim
Kamps Vice-Chairman Joseph DENardi – Joe was born in 1941 and grew up in Sheffield Lake, Ohio. He and his wife of 40 years, Janet, have lived in Medina County for 38 years, the majority in Granger Township. Their two daughters, Jennifer and Judith, are married and have blessed them with three grandchildren. Joe graduated from Bowling Green State University and holds a B.S. degree with a major in earth science and education, as well as a masters of education in school administration. He has also taken post-graduate work at the University of Akron and Kent State University, focusing on conservation. Originally a teacher for 4 years with Wooster City Schools, Joe eventually served as an elementary school principal; 20 years with Brunswick City Schools and 7 years with Berea City Schools. In 1992, he received an Ohio Governor’s Educational Leadership Award. Joe operates a small apple orchard and sugar bush and also participates in state tree programs. He has also worked for Alber farms for 30 years, where he has gained considerable experience with dairy operations, grain crops, and hay and straw production. Joe has served on the Granger Township Board of Zoning Appeals for 14 years; the past 6 as chairman. He remains very active with the Granger United Methodist Church and the Granger Historical Society. In 2002 and 2003, the Medina County Park District recognized him as their Volunteer of the Year for the work he has done throughout the school year at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center and during their summer programs. When they can, Joe and his wife spend time traveling by themselves or with their grandchildren, as well as hiking and biking around the U.S. Secretary Steve Fulton – Steve, along with his father and uncle, farm 750 acres on Maple Valley Farms in Guilford Township. Together they milk 75 dairy cows, raise 75 replacement heifers, and raise 25 beef cattle per year. Throughout his thirty years of farming, several conservation practices have been utilized on the farm including field strips, no-till, chisel plowing, grassed waterways, a manure storage and utilization system, and systematic tiling. Steve also assists with maple syrup production where 1600 taps generate enough raw sap for 300-400 gallons of syrup per season. He is very active in the Farm Bureau and has been a District Board Supervisor since 1992. Treasurer Debbie Russell - Debbie and her husband have lived on their 14 acre farm in Montville Township for the past 20 years. They enjoyed raising two daughters on this “little bit of country” where they could ride their horses, raise rabbits, have cats, and enjoy gardening and the wildlife. The past 8 years she enjoyed working with and learning about water resources and conservation through her job as an engineering technician for J&L Engineering as she assisted with pond and lake designs and watershed projects. She is currently employed by Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District as the Chippewa Watershed Specialist overseeing the maintenance of the Chippewa Creek Flood Control Project’s 33 miles of channel and eight flood control dams. Debbie served as an Associate Board Member in 2002 and has been on the Board of Supervisors since 2003. Fiscal Agent Frank Ehrman – Frank has lived in York Township for the past 64 years. Throughout these years, he has applied many conservation practices to his farm including: no-till corn, long term alfalfa, soy-beans, grassed waterways, ponds, and areas of nature preservation. Frank began his farming career as a dairy farmer and is currently involved in a corporation with his son David and his daughter Linda. He has been a York Township Trustee since 1970, is a member of Farm Bureau, and a member of the Medina County Railroad Safety Task Force. In the past he has served as a Landmark Director, a dairy board member, and a grange member. Frank and his wife Marilyn have three children and eight grandchildren.
William F. Jordan
– Chatham Township Celia
Kruggel – Litchfield
Township Individuals interested in becoming an Associate Board Member should contact Jeff Van Loon at (330) 722-2628 ext. 111 or via e-mail. |
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The
office consists of 5 SWCD employees and one USDA Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS) employee. SWCD JEFF Van LOON, District Manager Responsible
for implementing District programs and activities that meet the goals,
objectives, and policies established by the Board of Supervisors,
including the
coordination of short and long-term planning needs. He oversees the
day-to-day responsibilities of District staff, the
development and maintenance of the annual operating budget and related
funding requests, and
technical assistance related to the District’s Urban Program. Janet Kuthe, Administrative Assistant Responsible for the general office operations, including the annual tree sale program, correspondence and bookkeeping. Jim Dieter, District Technician Responsible for assisting landowners with conservation practices on their property; which include erosion, drainage, wildlife, wetland, and forestry enhancement. Additional duties include working with livestock producers and the management of manure, and assisting the County Engineer's office with their pond construction permit. Beth Schnabel, Education Specialist Responsible
for coordinating conservation education programs through presentations,
tours, workshops, newsletters, and educational displays. Gary Norcia, Watershed Coordinator Responsible
for the
District's involvement in the implementation of the NDPES Phase II Storm
Water Management Programs within the county. Currently interim watershed coordinator for the Upper West Branch of the Rocky River Balanced Growth Plan.
Christy hulse, District Technician Responsible for assisting landowners with conservation practices on their property; which include erosion, drainage, wildlife, wetland, and forestry enhancement. Additional duties include working with livestock producers and the management of manure.
USDA-NRCS Dave Kopchak, District Conservationist Throughout
Medina SWCD’s existence, USDA has provided technical assistance and
shared resources in support of District programs and activities.
The District Conservationist provides Conservation Planning
assistance to clients, ensures that USDA-NRCS Standards and
Specifications are followed for engineering and conservation practices,
and is responsible for local
administration of some USDA farm and conservation programs. |
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Currently the District is working on a variety of projects funded by grants and other outside sources. The Rocky River Upper West Branch Watershed Balanced Growth Plan The purpose of the plan will be to identify Priority Conservation Areas to protect critically important ecological, recreational, agricultural, heritage, public access, and other critical areas, and Priority Development Areas where growth and/or redevelopment should be supported. View press release. Go to Balanced Growth home page. |
| Employment Opportunities |
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No applications for employment are currently being accepted.
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| Directions |
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Travel south on Interstate 71 to the
State Route 18 (Medina) Exit From the South: Travel north on Interstate 71 to the
Interstate 76/State Route 224 interchange From the West: Travel east on State Route 162
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