Governor Appoints Bill Tom to the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission

We’re pleased to share that Bill Tom, vice president of risk management/customer solutions for Trupointe Cooperative, Inc. has been appointed by Gov. John Kasich to the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Bill’s term begins immediately and runs through June 30, 2018.

The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission dates back to 1941 when the 94th General Assembly enacted House Bill 646, which established the Ohio Soil Conservation Committee with five members, three farmers and two ex-officio representatives. The principal responsibility of Ohio's Soil and Water Conservation Commission (OSWCC) is to ensure that Ohio counties are served by effectively administered, adequately supported soil and water conservation districts. More specifically, the commission’s responsibilities include:

• Determine the allocation of state funds to soil and water conservation districts and recommend the level of state and federal funds needed by districts

• Inform Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) supervisors of their powers and duties and inform them of the activities and experience of other SWCDs

• Seek cooperation of state and federal agencies for SWCDs

• Issue appropriate rules governing election of SWCD supervisors

• Recommend to the directors of ODNR priorities for planning and construction of small watershed projects, as well as coordination of agreements with local SWCDs

• Recommend to state officials programs and legislation relative to SWCDs and their encouragement of proper soil, water and other natural resource management

The Ohio AgriBusiness Association congratulates Bill on this opportunity and we look forward to his leadership on conservation issues in Ohio.