TMACOG 2018 Annual Report

2018
Annual Report
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments

Our Vision:
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments will be the
governmental partner of choice to coordinate regional assets,
opportunities, and challenges.

Table of Contents
Annual Report Calendar Year 2018
• Letter from the President and Chair..................................................................2
• Lists
• Officers and Executive Committee.................................................................3
• Governmental Members.................................................................................4
• Non-governmental Members.........................................................................5
• Department Reports
• Administration Department Report...............................................................6
• Transportation Department Report................................................................8
• Water Quality Department Report...............................................................12
• Organizational Chart........................................................................................17
• Financials..........................................................................................................18
• TMACOG Staff...............................................................................................19
• TMACOG Contact Information.....................................................................20
In Memoriam
Judge Andy Devine, first Chair of TMACOG
1921-2018
1.

A letter from the Chair & President
P
eople only see the wild mayflies dance for a few days of their lives but we know that before they hatch, they have been quietly growing under water and ice
for as long as two years. TMACOG’s planning activities can feel like that. Sometimes it seems like things don’t change for a long time, and then all at once
there’s a metamorphosis. Right now, at the end of 2018, we seem to be in one of those pauses – waiting for state and federal decisions on how we will attack
the problems in Lake Erie, weighing regional transportation needs that far exceed the funding made available by state and federal governments. However,
we’ve been in the planning business for 50 years and counting and we know that our work beneath the surface is essential.
In the last year, the TMACOG Water Quality Council and its committees have established the Agenda for Lake Erie, a closely written and well-researched
position paper and legislative blueprint. We expect that this agenda will be one of the agents of change as legislative and regulatory decisions are made. The
Wastewater Committee completed a two-year project mapping sources of nutrients in 19 Ohio counties. This data will be essential as we allocate our resources
to improve water quality. TMACOG partnered with concerned farmers to support innovation in best management practices in their fields. These are
foundational projects that will support years of effort.
In 2019 we will be working on the Transportation Legislative Agenda, another critical document. We are also updating the 2045 Transportation Plan. This
long range plan makes big projects possible even when the needed resources are a long way off. The intersection of State Route 25 and I-475 in Perrysburg
was in TMACOG plans for many years. That project became the award-winning diverging diamond interchange. The short range transportation projects that
are handled by the Transportation Improvement Program (the TIP) are managed proactively, ensuring that every dollar of our $55 million local investment
from the current $750 million TIP goes to a regional priority project. We are quietly and effectively working toward accomplishments.
Planning for the future also means planning for next generations who will take over environmental stewardship and urban planning. We’re growing this population
with outreach projects including Clear Choices Clean Water which is building a community of volunteers. Gohio Commute is finding and encouraging
people who want to commute with less impact on the environment. The Student Watershed Watch doubled in size in 2018, teaching a thousand students
how to measure water quality.
One job for the students was to identify the mayfly larva, to recognize that summer army of fliers in their tiny aquatic growing stage. Students learn an
important lesson: that the mayflies, fragile on their own, make up a formidable force when the hatch acts as one.
Doris I. Herringshaw, Ed.D.
TMACOG Chair
President of Commissioners, Wood County
Tim W. Brown
President
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
2.

Officers & Executive Committee
Executive Committee Officers
Chair: Doris I. Herringshaw - President of Commissioners, Wood County
Vice Chair: Mark W. Stahl - Commisioner of Ottawa County
Leadership Development Committee
Chair: Doris I. Herringshaw - President of Commissioners, Wood County
Vice Chair: Mark W. Stahl - Commisioner of Ottawa County
Councils
Water Quality Council
Chair: Carol A. Contrada - Commissioner, Lucas County
Vice Chair: Jon Eckel - Director of Public Service, City of Perrysburg
Transportation Council
Chair: Keith G. Earley - County Engineer, Lucas County
Vice Chair: James M. Bagdonas - Municipal Administrator, City of Waterville
Communications Committee
Chair: Scott Carpenter - Director of Public Relations, Metroparks Toledo
Vice Chair: Sheri L. Bokros - Vice President, Business Development,
The Mannik & Smith Group
Finance & Audit Committee
Chair: Troy P. Dowling, Administrator - Public Service, City of Toledo
Vice Chair: Charles Hoecherl - Trustee, Township of Monclova
Membership Committee
Chair: Kenneth L. Gilsdorf, Trustee - Township of Lake
Vice Chair: Robert P. Mack, Trustee - Township of Perrysburg
2018 At - Large Members
Michael A. Aspacher – President of Council, Third Ward, City of Bowling Green
Gordon A. Bowman – Mayor, Village of Pemberville & Chair, TMACOG
Portage River Basin Council
Lori A. Brodie – Mayor, City of Waterville
Robert P. Mack – Trustee, Township of Perrysburg
Patrick McColley – Deputy Director, ODOT District 2 (ex-officio member)
Al Prieur – Deputy Supervisor, Township of Bedford
Kay E. Reiter – Commissioner, Sandusky County
Angie Ruiz – Council Member, Third Ward, City of Fremont
James M. Sass – Commissioner, Ottawa County
Edward L. Snyder – Trustee, Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association Inc.
Sandra L. Spang – Council Member-At-Large, City of Toledo
Craig A. Stough – Mayor, City of Sylvania & Immediate Past TMACOG Chair
At the 2018 General Assembly: Tim Brown, TMACOG president; Craig Stough, outgoing TMACOG chair and mayor of Sylvania; Doris Herringshaw, incoming
TMACOG chair and president of Wood County commissioners; Mark Stahl, incoming TMACOG vice chair and Ottawa County commissioner.
3.

Governmental Members
Counties
Lucas County
Monroe County
Ottawa County
Sandusky County
Wood County
Cities
City of Bowling Green
City of Clyde
City of Fostoria
City of Fremont
City of Maumee
City of Monroe
City of Napoleon
City of Northwood
City of Oregon
City of Perrysburg
City of Port Clinton
City of Rossford
City of Sylvania
City of Toledo
City of Waterville
Villages
Village of Archbold
Village of Berkey
Village of Bradner
Village of Clay Center
Village of Delta
Village of Elmore
Village of Fayette
Village of Gibsonburg
Village of Green Springs
Village of Haskins
Village of Holland
Village of Hoytville
Village of Lindsey
Village of Luckey
Village of Lyons
Village of Metamora
Village of Millbury
Village of North Baltimore
Village of Oak Harbor
Village of Ottawa Hills
Village of Pemberville
Village of Portage
Village of Put-in-Bay
Village of Risingsun
Village of Swanton
Village of Walbridge
Village of Wayne
Village of Weston
Village of Whitehouse
Townships
Township of Bedford
Township of Erie
Township of Henry
Township of Jackson
Township of Jerusalem
Township of Lake
Township of Middleton
Township of Monclova
Township of Perrysburg
Township of Richfield
Township of Spencer
Township of Springfield
Township of Sylvania
Township of Troy
Township of Washington
Township of Whiteford
Special Districts
Lucas County Metropolitan Housing Authority
Metroparks Toledo
Northwestern Water & Sewer District
Ohio Turnpike & Infrastructure Commission
Port of Monroe
Sylvania Area Joint Recreation District
Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA)
Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
Wood County Park District
Wood County Port Authority
Schools, Colleges & Universities
Bowling Green State University
Lourdes University
The Maritime Academy of Toledo
Monroe County Community College
North Baltimore Local Schools
Northwood Local Schools
Ottawa Hills Local Schools
Owens Community College
Penta Career Center
Rossford Exempted Village Schools
Sylvania Schools
Toledo Public Schools
The University of Toledo
Wood County Educational Service Center
4.

Non-Governmental Members
AAA Northwest Ohio Region/AAA Club Alliance
A.A. Boos & Sons, Inc.
American Rivers
Associated General Contractors of Northwest Ohio
AT&T Ohio
Beckett & Raeder, Inc.
Black Swamp Bird Observatory
Black Swamp Conservancy
BP-Husky Refining, LLC
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Columbia Gas of Ohio
ConnecToledo
CT Consultants, Inc.
Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd.
Jones-Hamilton Company
Mannik & Smith Group, Inc.
Maumee Valley Adventurers, Inc.
Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor
Monroe Bank & Trust
Monroe County Chamber of Commerce
National Electrical Contractors Association
Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development (NORED)
Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association (NORTA)
Ohio Contractors Association
Ohio Farm Bureau
Davey Resource Group
DGL Consulting Engineers, LLC
DLZ Corporation
Eastern Maumee Bay COC
Eastman & Smith, Ltd.
Envirosafe Services of Ohio, Inc.
E.S. Wagner Company
Feller, Finch & Associates, Inc.
FirstEnergy/Toledo Edison
First Federal Bank of the Midwest
Genoa Bank
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership
Henry County Chamber of Commerce
Home Builders Association of Greater Toledo, Inc.
Hull & Associates, Inc.
Huntington Bank
Partners for Clean Streams, Inc.
Perstorp Polyols, Inc.
Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc.
ProMedica
Regional Growth Partnership
Republic Services, Inc.
Rudolph/Libbe Companies, Inc.
Safety Council of Northwest Ohio
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
Toledo Refining Company
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Toledo Trucking Association
Transportation Advocacy Group of Northwest Ohio (TAGNO)
We Are Traffic, LLC
Woolpert, Inc.
Non-governmental members at the summer caucus
and forum with state lawmakers.
5.

Administration
The TMACOG administration manages
the full-time staff of 22 with some seasonal
interns and part-timers. Administration is
responsible for all the usual operation of a
small business: human resources issues, all
forms of insurance, physical property, and
paying the bills. As a quasi-governmental
agency the administrative staff is also tasked
with managing grants, following federal
accounting and reporting regulations, and
managing member dues. All practices are
transparent and audited annually by the
state of Ohio.
• October TMACOG Tech: Tools and
Rules for Managing Meetings. An
overview of parliamentary procedure, tools
to conduct meetings fairly and in an
orderly manner.
Toledo City Council member,
Sandy Spang, talks TMACOG Tech.
Past TMACOG chairs at TMACOG’s 50th anniversary event:
Standing: Jim Sass, Doris Herringshaw, Craig Stough, and David
Scott. Seated: Mark Pietrykowski, Marge Brown, Andy Devine,
Barbara Sears, and Jimmy Carter.
Projects of TMACOG that serve all members
and are not tied directly to a Transportation
or Water Quality Planning project fall
under administration. In 2018 TMACOG
continued to organize and present the popular
TMACOG Tech sessions. These short
programs, free to members, are designed to
build professional expertise in elected officials
and administrators.
Staff and members celebrated TMACOG’s
fiftieth anniversary in 2018. Member
meetings included historical displays and
photos. WBGU donated a production of
a video highlighting TMACOG’s
influence in the region, and in April the
current administration hosted an anniversary
party attended by many of TMACOG’s
30 past chairs.
• February TMACOG Tech: Sexual
Harassment and Bullying in the Work
place. Advice for employers and employees
for establishing a safe and fair workplace.
• April TMACOG Tech: Ohio Sunshine
Laws Certification Training. Elected
officials are required to complete this
training (or send a designee) once during
each elected term. The session is also
open to private citizens.
Want to see more photos?
6.

Many long-time TMACOG partners recognized the fifieth anniversary with proclamations and resolutions.
Membership remains strong.
In TMACOG’s fiftieth year there are 145 governmental and non-governmental members. New or returning members in 2018 are:
• AAA Northwest Ohio Region /AAA Club Aliance
• Columbia Gas of Ohio
• ConnecToledo, Downtown Development Corporation
• Home Builders Association of Greater Toledo, Inc.
• Jackson Township, Wood County
• The Maritime Academy of Toledo
• ProMedica
• We Are Traffic
7.

Transportation Planning
In 2018 TMACOG learned that funds for the discretionary portion of the Transportation Improvement Program will
be drastically reduced. By fiscal year 2021-22, the planning area of Lucas and Wood counties in Ohio will see $3 million
less for short range regional transportation plans. This will put the region further behind in critical maintenance, repair,
and construction. This cut adds to already serious shortfalls in funding from state and federal sources. In the fall of 2018
TMACOG received 39 applications in a round of Surface Transportation Block Grants requesting a total of about $60
million. There was about $14 million available for appropriation.
State and federal lawmakers have not addressed
the Highway Trust Fund which is
the source of funding for highways, transit,
and more. It is supported by the gas tax
which has not been raised since 1993. To
bring the region’s transportation needs and
priorities to the attention of state and federal
lawmakers, TMACOG is updating the
Transportation Legislative Agenda for 2019-
2020.
TMACOG staff is engaging transportation
stakeholders to be part of the Toledo Region
Transportation Coalition that updates the
agenda. Published by TMACOG every two
years, the agenda represents the consensus of
a diverse coalition that includes local governments,
business groups, economic development
agencies, construction and supply
chain associations, accessibility interests, and
university and health care institutions. See
the current agenda here and look for information
on stakeholder comment opportunities
on www.tmacog.org.
Studies are the Foundation of Plans
With the increasing number of downtown
Toledo residents and more downtown employees
driving, cycling, and walking in
the area, the city of Toledo began a new
downtown transportation study. TMACOG
provided modeling for the study. Under
consideration are new transit (bus) patterns,
changing some one-way streets to two-way,
and plans to safely incorporate more bicycles
including 100 new bikeshare cycles which are
distributed in 17 stations around downtown.
TMACOG funded the ToleGo bike share
project with Transportation Alternatives
funds.
8.
Foundational studies and research accomplished
in 2018 provide the support for
TMACOG’s larger policy documents and
long range plans that will be in development
in 2019. Good plans are created with data,
analysis, and public input.

The Intelligent Transportation
System
ITS describes the network of communication
strategies used on roads and highways.
This system is growing increasingly complex.
Only a few years ago the big questions were
how to improve truck driver in-cab communications
and how to remotely update
traffic warning signs. ITS now integrates
mobile devices in and out of vehicles, stationary
sensors, and increasingly complex
signals generated by vehicles themselves.
TMACOG staff and members participated
in regional planning meetings in 2018 that
are specifically addressing infrastructure to
support a connected future transportation
system. A new TMACOG committee was
formed to prepare for autonomous and
connected vehicles. TMACOG partnered
with AAA, TARTA, and the University of
Toledo to form the Autonomous Vehicle
Steering Committee.
A series of studies looked at rail travel for
both freight and passengers. TMACOG’s
Passenger Rail Committee and the Public
Transit Committee both contributed information
to an updated Ohio Statewide Rail
Plan. Last updated in 2010, the Ohio rail
plan describes the state’s long-term vision
for rail service and the role of passenger and
freight rail in Ohio’s multimodal transportation
system.
TMACOG is participating a study of the
feasibility of restoring passenger rail connections
between Toledo and Detroit. In
partnership with the City of Toledo, the
study will examine possible routes, address
likely capital and operating costs, and estimate
potential ridership.
In a study of where rails and roads intersect,
TMACOG is working with the Ohio Rail
Development Commission on a study to
identify bottlenecks and chokepoints caused
by rail traffic in northwest Ohio.
Several other studies will also contribute to
TMACOG’s long range and short range
plans. In 2018 TMACOG staff completed
the Safety Locations Report and approved
safety performance management targets;
updated the Multimodal Needs Assessment
and Congestion Management Report in
coordination with regional plans; and reviewed
and monitored pavement condition
and bridge condition data.
Long Range Planning
TMACOG’s long range transportation
plan creates a vision for the region’s
transportation system that is based on
regional needs and is fiscally constrained.
By maintaining a vision that goes out
20 years or more, these plans ensure that
ambitious goals can be achieved.
Where We’re Going,
We Won’t Need Traffic
Lights
Connected and autonomous vehicles will change our
transportation infrastructure in some surprising ways.
Here’s some changes that are likely within the next 20
years.
• Fewer traffic signs. When your car knows where it’s going,
it won’t need signs on the highway.
• Traffic lanes could be narrower and medians may be
unnecessary.
• Semi trucks will move in head-to-tail platoons almost like
trains.
• Vehicles could drive a LOT faster on highways.
• We’ll have new drop-off lanes in urban areas where cars will
pause and change passengers.
• Empty parking lots will be put to new uses.
• Disabled people (and other non-drivers) will have the same
transportation options as able-bodied people.
• We’ll see better first mile and last mile connections with
door-to-door transportation.
• Since nearly all traffic crashes are caused by driver error,
we’ll see many fewer injuries. And since crashes cause traffic
congestion, fewer backups.
Get ready for some new terminology
• Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) technology. Cars and trucks will
emit signals to let other vehicles know speed, position, and
trajectory, and will also receive and interpret signals from
other vehicles.
• Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) technology. Cars will
communicate with stationary objects. For example, orange
barrels will have embedded technology to make temporary
work zones safer. Traffic signals will react to emergency
vehicles and to amount of traffic. Your car will know if the
bridge ahead is ice-covered and will drive appropriately.
9.

TMACOG began the revision to “On
the Move: 2045 Transportation Plan” in
2018. This plan was created in 2015 and is
regularly updated to keep it accurate and
effective. Public meetings, surveys, and
stakeholder input will take place in 2019 to
create Update 2020. The review will look for
changes in local priorities and review fiscal
constraints. The full plan and the schedule
for Update 2020 are posted on the
TMACOG website here.
The “On the Move: 2045 Transportation
Plan” is based on eight goals:
1. Safety: Reduce traffic-related fatalities
and serious injuries across all modes.
2. Infrastructure condition: Maintain and
improve the transportation system to a
state of good repair.
3. Congestion reduction: Reduce congestion
on the National Highway System
4. System reliability: Improve the efficiency
of the surface transportation system.
5. Freight movement: Strengthen freight
access to national and international trade
markets to support economic development
6. Environmental sustainability: Protect
and enhance the community and natural
environments.
10.
7. Project delivery: Expedite project
delivery to maximize effective use of
public funds.
8. Personal mobility: Improve the quality,
accessibility, and efficiency of the multimodal
personal transportation system.
Short Range Planning
The Transportation Improvement
Program (the TIP) is the four-year plan of
transportation projects. The TIP committee
reviews and ranks funding requests for
federal assistance in the development and
implementation of transportation projects.
In fiscal year 2018 ( July 1, 2017 - June 30,
2018), federal money obligated for transportation
projects in Lucas and Wood
counties was approximately $61.6 million
for 102 projects.
TMACOG responded to federal and state
initiatives in 2018 to establish performance
measures to be included in the TIP and in
long range plans. TMACOG has begun
to incorporate performance measures and
targets in the areas of roadway and bridge
conditions, safety, transit, travel time reliability,
and air quality.
TMACOG Pograms and Annual Events
Transportation Summit
• The theme of the March 2018 Transportation Summit was “What’s
it Take to Make it Safe?” with presentations on distracted driving,
impaired driving, and trends in accident rates as well as construction
updates for the region. Check out the Summit photos here.
Specialized transportation
• The Specialized Transportation Program managed by TMACOG
and TARTA awards grants to be used for transportation services to the
elderly and/or disabled. Regional agencies awarded in 2018 are Anne
Grady Corporation and Bittersweet Farms. Both agencies used the
funds to purchase and maintain handicap accessible vans.
Outreach and Education
• Gohio Commute rewards
commuters who choose to carpool,
take the bus, or ride a bike. The interactive
website gohiocommute.com
matches commuters and tracks mileage.
Ozone Action Season rolled out
a new campaign on billboards, TV,
radio, print ads, at Mud Hens stadium,
and social media. The campaign
shares information about air pollution
and asks people to take steps to
reduce the amount of pollution they generate.
• TMACOG published a
new Bicycle Users Map in
May, in time for annual Bike
Month activities. The map
shows how area cyclists use
paths, streets, and bike lanes
to commute. Download a
printed map here. An online
GIS map here shows
traffic volumes and speed
limits to help cyclists plan
their route.

Innovative Intersections
Safer, more efficient transportation is the result of clever design and construction in our region.
Roundabouts, the diverging diamond, and the SPUI (single point urban interchange), have made a difference.
Roundabouts Transform Problem Area
See the series of intersections created by the
City of Toledo out of the “thousand islands”
area adjacent to Overland Industrial Park.
This massive project changed a dangerous
and chaotic tangle of industrial and commuter
traffic into a smoothly flowing system. The
area also includes an adjacent multi-use path
that protects cyclists and pedestrians and
helps them move safely and easily through
the area. New green space and civic art make
the entire area welcoming.
Diverging Diamond
Driving on the “wrong” side of the road and
putting pedestrians and cyclists between
lanes on the bridge are solutions that make
this intersection work with minimal signaling.
Well-designed berms and barriers direct
the traffic to keep vehicles from veering into
wrong lanes.
One of the reasons that the intersection at
State Route 25 in Perrysburg has received
awards is because the new intersection made
use of an existing bridge, saving time and
money. The $8.5 million project was partially
funded with $3.3 million of Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds
awarded and scheduled by TMACOG. This
project was managed by ODOT.
Click to see how it works.
2014 2017
SPUI
Using a single traffic signal location, the
SPUI (single point urban intersection) at
Central Avenue (US 20) and I-475/US 23)
has improved a previously tricky and dangerous
intersection. Before the improvement,
some drivers who wanted to exit to US 20
had to merge, cross, and exit the highway in
a congested corridor. Now local traffic moves
easily and highway exits are safer.
2014
2017
11.

Water Quality Planning
A Focus on Lake Erie
Issues affecting the health of Lake Erie are
large, complex, and interrelated. TMACOG
staff, members, and partners are getting
their arms around the issues with a broad
reach. Projects as diverse as professional
training for water and wastewater treatment
plant operators, an inventory of unsewered
areas, and a project documenting a year
in agriculture all came back to the health
of Lake Erie. Stormwater projects, which
emphasize treating rainwater and snowmelt
where they fall, are also related to keeping
waterborne pollutants out of area tributaries
and Lake Erie. The year 2018 included scientific
research, public policy, and practical
efforts.
Water Quality Council
The WQC is the policy-making committee
of the Water Quality Planning department.
This diverse group includes the chair and
vice chair of the five WQ committees, and
elected officials, operators of water and
wastewater plants, agriculture interests, representatives
of park districts, private citizens,
and environmental consultants and engineers.
In 2018 they continued to learn from
researchers working on the problems of
Lake Erie. Working carefully and in consultation
with committee members and experts,
the group also commented on public
policy and crafted policy documents.
A major topic of discussion all year was the
concept of “impairment” for Lake Erie. The
term has legal and administrative implications
that are not completely agreed upon by
regulatory agencies and local governments.
A WQC meeting on May 14 addressed an
audience of 100 on the topic: “Lake Erie
Impaired: What’s Next for the Western Lake
Erie Basin.” Speakers at that meeting included
Craig Butler, director of Ohio EPA;
Steve Arndt, state of Ohio Representative;
and Ken Kilbert, professor at the University
of Toledo College of Law and expert on environmental law. The
expertise of the speakers is typical of the in-depth study that the
WQC undertook. Other WQC meetings were held at water treatment
plants, habitat restoration sites, and a park with new kayak
and canoe facilities.
Experts educate TMACOG members at a meeting of the Water Quality Council.
12.

Creating consensus policy and agreeing on
next steps has been the work of dozens of
people from the broad membership of the
WQC. The policy group provided comments
to state legislators regarding the Clean Lake
Erie 2020 Plan in late June. Kari Gerwin,
director of Water Quality Planning, also
gave a statement to the Ohio Soil and Water
www.tmacog.org/AFLE
Conservation Commission regarding the
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
Ohio Department of Agriculture’s proposed
300 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Suite 300 | Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: 419.241.9155 | Fax: 419.241.9116
“distressed watersheds” www.tmacog.org
designation.
What the WQC hopes will be the most
influential work of the group this year is
the Agenda for Lake Erie. In development
for more than 18 months, the document
includes seven policy briefs that represent
the priorities and position of TMACOG’s
diverse members:
• Legal Tools for Addressing Harmful
Algal Blooms
• Moving Forward with Lake Erie’s
Impairment Designation
• Municipal Stormwater Management
Programs
• Restoration and Protection of Natural
Drainage Systems
• Public Water Supply and Wastewater
Treatment
• Home Sewage Treatment Systems
• Agriculture
Agenda for
Lake Erie
2019 - 2020
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
Water Quality Council
This legislative agenda will be used to engage
state legislators and local decision-makers
on policies and practices that will improve
Lake Erie. The Agenda for Lake Erie was
approved by the TMACOG Board of
Trustees in December. Click above to read
the entire Agenda with policy briefs.
Watersheds
TMACOG members work in several watersheds
that drain to Lake Erie: the Toussaint,
Portage, Ottawa, Swan Creek, and Maumee
river watersheds. In 2018, TMACOG
partnered with Soil and Water Conservation
Districts from Ottawa and Wood counties
on a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant
that supports a range of agricultural best
management practices in the Portage and
Toussaint River watersheds: water control structures, cover crops, and
variable rate fertilizer application. The grant helps farmers purchase
and install structures, pay for seed, and hire specialized fertilizer
applicators.
Growing out the grant program, TMACOG staff worked with some
of the participating farmers and others in the region to document a
growing year with a video and series of print articles. Scientists have
determined that agriculture is the source of more than 80 percent of
the phosphorus that reaches Lake Erie and contributes to harmful
algal blooms. This series shows how area farmers make choices during
the year to both grow a profitable crop and protect the
environment that is their livelihood. Click on
the photo to launch a short preview video.
The Portage River Basin Council moved forward
on a Portage River Water Trail, working
with the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources and a partnership of local interests.
A water trail designates public canoe/kayak
access points along a waterway. In 2019, the
stakeholders and the cities, townships, and
counties involved will be working to secure
grants for improved access and signage.
13.

Public Water Supply and Wastewater
A two-year TMACOG project to identify
sewered and unsewered areas in 19 Ohio
counties was completed and published in
2018. The Nutrient Source Inventory for
Septic Systems and Package Plants was completed
in June. The project used aerial photos,
health department records, permits, and other
resources to put together the first comprehensive
map and data collection of this nature in
the region. Using the information collected,
planners can identify areas where people are
relying on septic systems for wastewater treatment
and make decisions about where to invest
resources for the most impact in reducing
bacteria and phosphorus loading into waterways.
Rural areas and small communities with
aging infrastructure face challenges to treating
waste; they are often far from a treatment
plant and need financial assistance to invest in
modern wastewater treatment infrastructure.
A significant revision of TMACOG’s
Areawide Water Quality Management Plan
(208 Plan) documented sewer separation
projects throughout the five-county 208 Plan
region and modified some Facility Planning
Areas. Critical sewage areas are being reduced
through expanded sewer connections to water
treatment facilities.
In related projects, staff have also begun work
on three planning projects funded by the
Ohio EPA. Staff are assisting the Ottawa
County Health Department to map locations
of home sewage treatment systems in that
14.
Members of TMACOG’s Public Water Supply and Wastewater committees
toured the City of Toledo Collins Park Water Treatment Plant as part of
on-going research.
county. The goal is to develop better records
for both government and the general public.
TMACOG is also coordinating with partners
to update, maintain, and develop nonpoint
source implementation strategies. The
goal is to identify projects aimed at improving
water quality in the western Lake Erie
basin. Outreach and education efforts will
focus on environmental science for students
in grades 5-12 as well as everyday steps
the general public can take to reduce water
pollution.
TMACOG coordinates professional development training for water
and wastewater operators.

Stormwater
A grant-funded project that installed seven
green stormwater management practices
in three central Toledo neighborhoods was
completed in 2018. The two-year project
was funded by a $250,000 grant from
the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
TMACOG provided project management
and coordinated stakeholders. Maintenance
of the bioswales and rain gardens will be
taken over by the City of Toledo and area
residents who have been involved in the
planning and construction of the gardens as
part of a neighborhood improvement plan.
Outreach and Public Information
TMACOG manages programs that help educate
students and the general public about
steps that individuals and households can
take to protect water supplies.
The Student Watershed Watch, now beginning
its 30th year, grew exponentially
in 2018. Nearly 1000 students took part in
water collection and analysis during the field
work part of the program in October. This is
an increase of nearly 80 percent over previous
years. Teachers have said that the Student
Watershed Watch is a good match for
their curriculum.
TMACOG staff has used this green stormwater site to continue
educational opportunities with the students at Pickett
Elementary School.
Check out teacher Lara Fish on
TMACOGTube
A newer outreach program, Clear Choices,
Clean Water, creates a community of people
who are taking steps to prevent water pollution.
More than 600 people have volunteered
to pick up after
their pets, reduce
fertilizer use, adopt
a storm drain, or
use native plants in
their gardens. The
CCCW network
allows volunteers
to see who else
in their area is
participating and
facilitates group
activities.
PICK UP
PET POO
It All
Piles Up
M A K E A DIFF E R E N C E!
Take a Poo Pledge at
ToledoLakeErie.ClearChoicesCleanWater.org
Field work is an important part of the annual
Student Watershed Watch.
TMACOG Director of Water Quality Planning
Kari Gerwin and Joe Cappel of the Toledo-Lucas
County Port Authority were among the speakers on
a WQC tour of the Maumee River.
15.

It All Adds Up: Measuring Water Quality Interest
TMACOG members were engaged in
attending a total of 34 meetings of the seven
main Water Quality council and committees
in 2018. Photos of meetings
Nearly 1000 students supported by more than 30 teachers participated in water quality testing for the Student
Watershed Watch, nearly double the numbers in 2017. Teachers value how the program fits into their curriculum.
Grants administered by TMACOG have
helped farmers plant 4,665 acres of cover
crops and manage drainage water on 300
acres. Learn more about how farmers use
best management practices in a short video.
Professional operators and engineers of
water and wastewater plants earned up to
13.75 professional certification hours each
at TMACOG workshops and meetings in
2018.
Bonus Mayfly Factoid
Mayflies live from a few hours to 2 days after they hatch out of their freshwater
homes and take flight.
There are more than 3,000 species of mayfly (order Ephemeroptera), grouped
into more than 400 genera in 42 families. This order is part of an ancient group of
insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies.
The outreach program Clear Choices, Clean Water is creating a community
of people who are taking steps to prevent water pollution. More than
600 people have volunteered and logged in their activities at the Toledo
Lake Erie CCCW website.
Bonus Mayfly
Factoid
The size of annual mayfly
hatch is related to the
general health of Lake
Erie, but not directly correlated
to the algae bloom
or to microsystin levels.
Mayflies are vulnerable to
silt and pollution so a big
hatch is a positive sign.
16.
In the 9 years that TMACOG has administered Clean Ohio funds
through the Natural Resources Assistance Council, 1,992 acres have been
preserved in Lucas County and made available for public access.

TMACOG Organizational Structure
17.

Financials
Fiscal Year 2018 | July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018
Member Dues and Assessments
$781,946
Project Contributions &
Other Local Funds
$238,558
Federal Program Support
$1,381,790
State Program Support
$216,768
Total Revenues:
$2,619,062
Revenue Actual 2018 Expense Actual 2018
Direct Wages & Fringe Benefits
$987,196
Administrative Wages & Fringe Benefits
$653,282
Direct Program Costs
$579,176
Administrative Overhead Costs
$299,467
Contingencies & Reserves
$99,942
Total Expenditures
$2,619,062
Transportation
$1,450,897
Environment
$941,915
Member Services
$126,308
Contingencies & Reserves
$99,942
Total
$2,619,062
Funding Distribution by Activity
Federal Transportation
$1,146,954
Federal Water Quality
$234,837
State Transportation
$132,902
State Water Quality
$83,866
Local Transportation
$171,041
Local Water Quality
$623,212
Local Member Services
$226,250
Funding Distribution by Source
Total
$2,619,062
18.

We are TMACOG
Administration
Tim W. Brown
President
Bill Best
Vice President
of Finance & Administration
Jennifer Allen
Executive Secretary
Nate Reiter
Accountant
Gilda Mitchell
Director of Membership &
Outreach
Donna Seeber
Secretary | Receptionist
Ann Nair
Administrative Assistant
Transportation
David Gedeon, AICP
Vice President
of Transportation
Lance Dasher, AICP
Transportation Planner
Jodi Cole
Transportation Secretary
Roger Streiffert
Transportation Planner
Lisa Householder
Transportation Planner
Database Analyst
Marc Vondeylen
Transportation Technician III
Dana Doubler
Transportation Planner
Mike Fuller
Transportation Planner
Austin Mack
Public Administration
Associate
Water Quality
Communications
Kari Gerwin
Director
of Water Quality Planning
Kris Barnswell
Water Quality Planner
Sara Guiher
Water Quality Planner
Joy Minarcin
Water Quality
Administrative Assistant
Tatiana Burkett
Water Quality Associate
Mary Pat McCarthy
Marketing & Public
Information Manager
Mike Tippett
Digital Communications
Manager
19.

Join TMACOG on our social media platforms.
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/
TMACOG
Follow: @TMACOG, @TimBrownTMACOG, @Gohio Commute TMACOG
Blog and discussion: tmacogblog.blogspot.com
Offices:
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
300 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Suite 300
Toledo, OH 43604
Mail delivery:
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
PO Box 9508
Toledo, OH 43697-9508
Phone:
419.241.9155
Fax: 419.241.9116
Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/user/TmacogTube
Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/tmacog_photos/
20.
www.tmacog.org
Persons requesting special accommodations due to limited English proficiency, disabilities
of language, mobility, or other handicap are invited to contact TMACOG Accessibility
Coordinator Jennifer Allen (allen@tmacog.org or 419.241.9155, ext. 1107).

Mission Statement
To improve quality of life in the region, TMACOG will:
-Promote a positive identity for the region.
-Enhance awareness of the region’s assets and opportunities.
-Be an impartial broker of regional disputes and challenges.
-Provide stakeholders a voice in regional decision-making.
-Support opportunities for regional stakeholder networking.

www.tmacog.org
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments