The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) will hold its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, March 25, at 10 a.m., at the Ohio EPA Center for Excellence, 50 West Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus.
During the meeting, the progress of current projects and activities will be presented. The commission will take action on recommended Lake Erie Protection Fund grant project proposals. The meeting will include discussion of highlighted grant project outcomes from completed projects. The Swan Creek Balanced Growth Plan will be considered for re-endorsement. Other Balanced Growth reports include the completion of an Ohio Department of Transportation research project and several technical assistance projects for local governments.
OLEC oversees Ohios Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is a source of grant money for projects that benefit the Lake Erie watershed economically and environmentally. This fund is supported through donations and by Ohioans who purchase a Lake Erie license plate displaying the Marblehead Lighthouse or the Lake Erie preserver.
All OLEC meetings are open to the public and include reports from the member state agencies and advisory committees followed by a public comment period. Organizations and citizens are encouraged to attend.
OLEC was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie’s natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem and promoting economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) serves as the commission’s chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development Services, Agriculture, Natural Resources and four additional members appointed by Governor John Kasich.
