Who We Are

Get out and vote!  

2020 Board of Supervisor Election

Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District has a five-member Board of Supervisors elected by landowners and residents of Licking County.   As unpaid Public Officials, the Board members are responsible for conducting business within the scope of the laws and administrative rules that govern LCSWCD.  Board members also help guide Soil & Water’s mission with professionalism, efficiency, and effectiveness. 

Two Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2023.

Meet the Candidates:

Each candidate provided their thoughts on why Soil & Water’s mission was meaningful and explained what they saw as the three biggest natural resource challenges facing Licking County during the next five years.

Kim Byce lives in Granville Township and is the Homestead Coordinator at Denison University.  As a mom of three, she knows she is borrowing the earth from her children and theirs.  Licking Soil & Water empowers her and other sustainability-minded residents of the county with knowledge and resources to ensure a viable, abundant future for all. 

Three challenges: 

1.     Making Licking Soil & Water’s resources and opportunities more accessible and engaging to a larger population of county residents, homeowners, and consumers. 

2.     Finding financial incentives or other assistance to help landowners make environmentally conscious (but sometimes expensive) choices.

3.     Strengthen and publicize connections among like-minded entities and organizations to create a county-wide culture of conservation. 

Bill Goodman is completing his first term on the Licking County Board of Supervisors and currently serves as a Director for the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts.

Soil & Water offers assistance in many areas – land preservation, mini-grants, stormwater management, etc. – to promote conservation in this diverse county. 

Three challenges: 

1.     Logjams- Almost every creek or stream has developed logjams in the past few years.  Working on removing them will be challenging. 

2.     Cover Crops- Continue to encourage the cover crop program by offering as much cost-share as possible.

3.     Continue to work with developers in urban settings by stressing the needs for conservation in all areas of construction.

Rhonda Reda lives in Pataskala and has been recognized with numerous awards for STEM-related education programs related to natural resources.  

I have been involved in natural resources for almost 35 years. Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District is very meaningful to me because I have seen first-hand how working with local leadership and creating educational programs can be very useful.

1. Education on water quality and healthy soils for agriculture production. Encourage the development of additional public outreach programs to educate the general public. Review and help execute established Strategic Plans.

2. Establish more partnerships with various community groups, community leaders and educators to provide additional outreach within Licking County and help create special programs that could be adopted by other Soil & Water Districts.

3. Lack of information about natural resources to youth. Need to create better social media and electronic platforms to reach millennials, GEN X, GEN Y and GEN Z. Become a permanent resource for conservation information. Create additional programs that will engage young children and adults.

Cast your vote

The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Individuals who own or occupy land within the Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor.

There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:

1.) At the Soil & Water office from November 4, 2020 until November 18, 2020 during normal business hours; or

2.) At the Soil & Water Drive Thru voting event, which will take place at Soil & Water office on November 12, 2020 and from 4:30-6:30 pm; or

3.) Voting absentee from October 5, 2020 until November 3, 2020, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the SWCD office at the following address: 771 East Main Street, Suite 100, Newark, OH  43055, by calling 740‐670‐5330, or email Information@LickingSWCD.com. Absentee ballots must be received by the SWCD office by November 18, 2020.

2020 Board Members

Board of Supervisors 

Landowners and residents of Licking County elect the governing body of Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District.  The governing body is referred to as the Board of Supervisors.  The election of Supervisors is conducted by the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission pursuant to rules it adopts under Chapter 119 of the Revised Code.  The five publicly-elected members of the Board of Supervisors serve, unpaid, for three-year terms. 

The five Supervisors represent our county's soil conservation and water conservation needs in rural, suburban and urban settings, on farmland and in our backyards and public lands.  They voluntarily work with community members and organizations to encourage wise use of our land and water.   

Committees

Through committees, work can be divided so that far more can be accomplished.  Committees typically meet on a quarterly or as-needed basis. Contact us at Information@LickingSWCD.com for additional information.    

Building/Equipment/Safety Committee - Provides recommendations for technology, equipment, rental program, fleet maintenance, building and barn maintenance, and safety policy.  

Budget Committee - This committee oversees the preparation of the annual budget, managing the organization’s investments, setting compensation packages for staff, and oversees the Annual Giving Campaign.

Program Committee - While staff carries out the day-to-day activities that result in the development and implementation of the organization’s programs, the Program Committee is charged with long-range planning and general oversight. Assists with developing and monitoring the Annual Plan of Work and Strategic Plan; volunteers for programs; represents the Soil & Water District at community events.

Policy/Personnel Committee- Reviews & recommends updates to the employee personnel policy ensuring compliance with County, State, and Federal law. Recommends updates to job descriptions and makes suggestions for the staff evaluation process.

Associate Board Members

Associate Board members are concerned citizens who officially volunteer their time to assist the Board and District.  Associate Board Members serve on board committees, help plan, promote and implement district programs, activities, field days, etc., represent the district at various meetings and events, and present district programs to individuals, groups, and organizations.  Contact us to learn more at Information@LickingSWCD.com.