Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of the state organized by county boundary. Districts are overseen by a publicly elected and volunteer Board of Supervisors comprised of natural resource professionals and active community members. 

Board Supervisors are elected to a three year term by a special public election outlined in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 940.

The Board is comprised of 5 elected officials whose authority is outlined in ORC 940.

Board Supervisors are primarily responsible for setting the direction of the organization through long range planning and policy setting. They are also responsible for acting as ambassadors for the district in their representative communities, providing supervision to the District Administrator and providing oversight of fiscal decisions and funding activities.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

•  Prepare for and attend monthly board meetings.
• Know thoroughly the powers, authorities and responsibilities placed on you by the Ohio Revised Code.
• Review monthly financial statements and raise questions for clarification or to raise concerns.
• Assist the District Administrator in updating elected officials on District programs and goals on an annual basis.
• Work to set and update the strategic plan so that long-range goals are clarified to the staff for program development.
• Develop and approve policy that guides the activities and responsibilities of the District
• Administrator and District Staff, i.e., job descriptions, personnel policy, financial policy, working agreements with partner agencies, and administrative policies. Seek assistance from the District Administrator in providing recommendations and guidance as needed.
• Hire and supervise a District Administrator who is capable of overseeing the day-to-day activities and finer details of program development.
• Provide input and guidance on funding possibilities.
• Keep up-to-date on natural resource concerns and related trends for the County.
• Participate in Board Committees as needed.
• Clarify expectations, knowledge and interests to the Board Chair and District Administrator so that they can assist in keeping the Board members engaged, and utilize individual board member's
• expertise for the benefit of the District.
• Exchange ideas on administrative procedures and long-range goals with other District governing bodies.
• Provide assistance or input to staff on program areas related to their area of expertise as requested by the Board Chair, District Administrator or staff.
• Utilize administrative and procedural guidance available through the ODA Program Specialist, who is assigned to the assist the District in these matters. Be aware of other resources available to the District including the County Prosecutor's Office, ODA Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Natural Resource Conservation District Conservationist, etc.
• Assist in organizing and/ or assisting with the Board of Supervisor Nominations and Election process and the Annual Meeting.
• Be aware of chapter 940 of the ORC as well as administrative laws related to sunshine laws, and ethics.
• Be honest as to your abilities to meet the needs of this position and if the responsibilities become too much, offer your resignation to the board so that an associate board member who may have more time can fill the board position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Currently a United States Citizen over the age of 18 and a resident of the County.
• Ability to attend at least 75% of board meetings.
• Ability to attend at least one of the following each year: OFSWCD Annual Meeting, OFSWCD
• Summer Supervisors School, Area Supervisors Meeting, or NACD Annual Conference.
• Ability to attend meetings with elected officials as needed.
• Ability to attend the Annual Election and Meeting and if possible the Annual Planning Meeting.
• Ability to meet individually with the Administrator for evaluation and by request.

SUPERVISION:

• This person is an elected official who is ultimately responsible to the residents of the County. The Ohio Revised Code Chapter 940 outlines the legal responsibilities and powers of the supervisors.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW:

• The Board Supervisors will evaluate their performance as a joint entity on an annual basis.

JOB DEVELOPMENT TRAINING:

• Training for new supervisors is available at the OFSWCD Annual Meeting, OFSWCD Summer Supervisor School, NACD and from the ODA Program Specialist.
• Supervisors are welcome and encouraged to attend activities, programs or field visits with staff members to gain an understanding of the District.
• Supervisors are encouraged to ask the ODA Program Specialist and District Administrator for assistance in seeking additional information and training as needed.

BENEFITS:

• While this position is a volunteer position, Supervisors can be reimbursed for travel and expensesrelated to their duties. 

Associate Supervisors:

Associate Supervisors have similar duties to the board with the following exceptions:

• They must attend a minimum of 4 board meetings per year.
• They are expected to actively participate in board meeting discussion but have no vote.
• They can be reimbursed for travel and expenses when authorized by the Board.
• Associate Supervisors are strongly encouraged to attend the Districts Annual Banquet and Annual
• Planning Meeting.
• Associate Supervisors serve at the discretion

• Other district officials
• State conservation agency

• Satisfaction in seeing conservation practices applied
• Interaction with others interested in natural resources conservation
• Input into local, state, and federal conservation programs
• Training through the state conservation agency

Attend 12 regularly scheduled board meetings, as well as committee, special meetings, and events (for an average of approximately 30 days per year).

• Identify local conservation needs, and develop, implement, and evaluate programs to meet them
• Educate and inform landowners and operators, general public, and local, state, and federal legislators on conservation issues and programs
• Supervise other volunteers and paid staff working with the district; coordinate with cooperating agency personnel
• Administer the district by delegating tasks through a structure of board officers and members, committees, and others; raise and budget district funds and report on activities to the public

2025 Board meeting dates and times as follows:

January 14, 2025, 8:00am

February 11, 2025, 8:00am

March 11, 2025, 8:00am

April 8, 2025, 8:00am

May 13, 2025, 8:00am

June 10, 2025, 8:00am

July 8, 2025, 8:00am

August 19, 2025, 8:00am

September 9, 2025, 8:00am

September 30, 2025, 6:00 pm - 2025 Annual Meeting  

October 14, 2025, 8:00am

November 4, 2025, 8:00am

December 9, 2025, 8:00am

Meetings will be held at: Tuscarawas SWCD 85 E. Iron Ave Dover, Ohio 44622