Ohio Department of Natural Resources to discuss its role in Lorain County strategic plan on Jan. 28

The next step in Lorain County's ongoing Strategic Action Plan will be taken Jan. 28 when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources gives a presentation on the future of the county's natural resources. The event will take place 9 a.m. in Room SP114 at the Spitzer Conference Center at Lorain County Community College. It is free and open to the public, and those interested in attending can make reservations by going online to LorainCountyOhio.gov/ODNR-Event. Box lunches will be available for purchase. Standard box lunches are $15, and gourmet box lunches are $18. Natural resources was identified as a concern for the county's future when the strategic plan was being created, and the goal of the natural resources part of the plan is "to promote sustainable practices and protect natural assets" in the county, officials said in a news release. It was one of five "pillars" of the plan, with the others being transit, housing, workforce development and economic development. County Special Projects Coordinator/Manager Dave Greenspan on Friday told the Lorain County commissioners that ODNR will be giving assistance and guidance on issues including water quality and conservation, urban forestry and other programs. There will also be information on how Lorain County communities can apply to ODNR for grant programs. County Administrator Jeff Armbruster said ODNR already works with and in Lorain County, but the purpose of the Jan. 28 meeting will be to learn what it can do for the county in the future, how ODNR can continue to work with Lorain County Metro Parks and "how can we grow the parks in the future for the residents and citizens in Lorain County." The schedule for the Jan. 28 meeting is as follows: 9 a.m.: Heather Bokman, sustainability coordinator at ODNR's Division of Parks & Watercraft, will discuss sustainability. 9:45 a.m.: Ann Schweitzer, environmental review and compliance manager at ODNR's Office of Real Estate and Land Management, and Mike Pettegrew, environmental services administrator, will present on the environmental review process. 10:30 a.m.: Timothy Robinson, grant coordinator at ODNR, and Dee Burlison, program manager at ODNR, will discuss grant opportunities. 11:15 a.m.: John Navarro, program administrator at ODNR's Division of Wildlife, will discuss aquatic stewardship and fish management on Lake Erie and Ohio's inland lakes. 12:15 p.m.: Ohio's scenic rivers will be discussed. 1 p.m.: Rachel DeNoewer, assistant program manager with ODNR's H2ohio statewide water quality initiative, will present about the program. 1:45 p.m.: John Kehn, ODNR consulting forester/mine reclamation inspector, will discuss forestry including service forestry and forest health. The program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.