BUCYRUS — The Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors appointed Paul E. Hartschuh and Tom Miller to fill vacancies over the last several months due to the resignations of Andrew Eichhorn in February and Kent Stuckey in April. The appointed board members will serve out the terms of the original board members.

Andrew served a little over one year and Kent served for 20 years. Kent also served on the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts area and state boards as well as the National Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ board. Soil and Water board members serve in a voluntary capacity; therefore when other job and business commitments changed they found they were unable to meet their board member obligations.

The Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District nominating committee is searching for qualified candidates who are interested in serving on their board of supervisors. Supervisors are public officials responsible to the people of Crawford County. They serve in a voluntary capacity and are responsible for directing the activities, programs, and financial resources of the Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District. Supervisors should have an interest in conserving our natural resources and agricultural conservation. The SWCD board meetings are open to the public, anyone interested in conservation is welcome to attend and anyone considering running for the board is encouraged to attend.

Candidates must be a minimum of 18 years of age and reside in Crawford County. They should be available to attend twelve monthly meetings as well as four – six other meetings throughout the year including special board meetings and two all-day statewide training meetings. They may also elect to attend the National Association of Conservation Districts 4-day meeting.

This year the terms of current supervisors Rose Hartschuh and Tom Miller expire Dec. 31, 2017 and neither is running for re-election. Soil and Water election laws require that the nominating committee must have a minimum of three candidates nominated for the ballot by July 28th this year, one more candidate than the number of offices to be filled. However more than three candidates may run. Supervisors will be elected to a three-year term of office commencing January 1, 2018.

Contact the SWCD office at 419-562-8280. ext. 3 for information.