First Meeting of the Water Quality Council Held

After a year of reorganization and planning, the new Water Quality Council held its first meeting Wednesday, March 9 at the Lucas County Sanitary Engineers office. More than 40 people were in attendance including city, county, village, and township elected officials, wastewater operators, and sanitary engineers.

Chair of the WQC Carol Contrada noted the mission of the new council in her opening remarks. “Through the work of the Wastewater, Public Water Supply, Regional Water Planning, Watershed, and Stormwater committees, we are charged with creating an Agenda for Lake Erie,” she said.

Caucus Sessions Show Concerns

At the annual TMACOG General Assembly held in January, members meet in caucus sessions of their peers. These discussions are one way that members share concerns and solutions. To see what they talked about, see the 2016 Caucus Notes.

The link takes you to one document that includes notes from the Counties, Cities, Villages, Townships, Schools & Colleges & Universities, Non-governmental Members, and Special Districts & Authorities caucus sessions.


Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Webinars for Stormwater Planners

The next regularly scheduled stormwater webinar is Wednesday, March 16. "Surviving a MS4 Compliance Audit" will be at the City of Toledo Engineering Services office, 1 p..m. - 2:30 p.m. There is no charge but registration is required. Contact TMACOG Stormwater Planner Kari Gerwin.

Members of the TMACOG Stormwater Coalition may also be interested in an Ohio EPA webinar next week. The title is "Event Information: DEFA Webinar - Submitting Ohio EPA Stormwater Applications and Reports Electronically, MS4 Program Updates and Resources."

It's a mouthful, but the seminar will focus on the Ohio EPA's new web-based electronic application system for the submittal of stormwater applications and reports. That webinar is Wednesday, March 16, 10 -11 a.m. Register here: https://ohioepa.webex.com/mw3000/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=ohioepa&service=6

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Help Wanted: TMACOG President

TMACOG President Tony Reams has announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2016. He is only the fourth full-time top executive at TMACOG since the agency was organized in 1968.

The job description and an outline of preferred experience for candidates is on tmacog.org here: http://www.tmacog.org/info_employment.htm.

The search for a new president is being led by the Leadership Development committee. Applications are due by end of business day on March 31. The committee plans to confirm a candidate by May and have a new president in place by June, 2016.
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Gear up for Bike Month

May is Bike Month in northwest Ohio. Start thinking about getting out on the roads, bike paths, and signed routes now. Here's what we have planned so far:

• May 4 – Bike to School Day
• May 18 – Ride of Silence in Toledo
• May 20 – Bike to Work Day
• May 22 – Sylvania Slow Ryders Ride

If you want to participate in any of these events, contact Lance Dasher at TMACOG: 419-241-9155 ext. 115.

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Next Generation of Logistics Professionals

Sandra Simon, a career coach for Toledo Public Schools, thinks that a program funding a supply chain management program for high school students is a smart idea. Money for the Youth Career Grant comes from fees employers pay for visas given to immigrants coming to the U.S. for technical jobs. She says, “We’re using that money – from importing skilled people – to grow our own talent here.”

Woodward High School is one of 27 schools in the U.S. that are a recipient of the grant. It allowed the school to establish a two-year program that focusses on supply chain management and workforce readiness. Principal of the school, Jack Renz, said he pursued the grant that supports the program because of the good jobs that are available in transportation and logistics within only a few miles of his school. High school classwork is aligned with courses at Owens Community College and students gain up to 12 college credit hours.

Woodward seniors Angela Johnson and Hugo Rodriquez aren’t certain of their future careers right now but both have learned about logistics and the supply chain industry and had other opportunities through their participation in the supply chain management program. Johnson says that being interviewed by Chrysler was a highlight of her high school education. Rodriquez said that he enjoyed project management and might pursue his degree in engineering.

TMACOG Elects New Leadership

At the 2015 General Assembly held January 25, TMACOG members voted on new leadership. Craig Stough, mayor of the City of Sylvania, was elected chair. Richard Edwards, mayor of the City of Bowling Green, was elected vice chair. They will serve a 12-month term. They replace outgoing Chair James Sass, Ottawa County commissioner, and outgoing Vice Chair Angela Kuhn, past mayor of the Village of Whitehouse.

Richard Edwards, Angela Kuhn, Craig Stough, Jim Sass, and Tony Reams. Mr. Edwards and Mr. Stough are newly elected vice chair and chair respectively of the TMACOG Board of Trustees. Ms. Kuhn and Mr. Sass are outgoing leaders. Mr. Reams is the president of the staff of TMACOG. 

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org