Portage SWCD is governed by a five-member local Board of Supervisors and elections are held yearly at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Supervisors has the ethical and legal responsibility to ensure that the SWCD meets its mission.
Monthly Board Meetings
Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month and start at 7:00pm for the months of January through March and November. 8:00pm for the months of April through October. December/Christmas is tentative. Meetings are held in the Portage SWCD garden meeting room located @ 6970 St. Rt. 88 Ravenna, OH 44266. If you have any questions or wish to be notified of cancellations, changes, or emergency meetings, please call (330)235-6798.
Vote In our Board of Supervisors Election
Individuals who own or occupy land within the Portage Soil and Water Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor.
There are 3 ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:
1.) At the SWCD office, 6970 St. Rt. 88 Ravenna, OH 44266, from 8/17/2022 until 9/15/2022 during normal business hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
2.) At the SWCD Annual Meeting, on September 15, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Portage SWCD (Garden Meeting Room) located at 6970 St. Rt. 88 Ravenna, OH 44266
3.) Voting absentee from 8/17/2022 until 9/15/2022, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the SWCD office 6970 St. Rt. 88 Ravenna, OH 44266, or by calling 330.235.6798, or email [email protected] The Portage SWCD office must receive absentee ballots by 3:00 pm on 9/15/2022.
One supervisor will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2025.
Nominees are:
1. Robert Bane
2. Fred Rodenbucher
2023 Proposed Tax Budget
The Portage County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing and regular meeting to consider the adoption of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Tax Budget on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 8:00PM at The Portage SWCD Office located at 6970 State Route 88, Suite D, in Ravenna. Beginning June 27, 2022 copies of the proposed Tax Budget will be available for viewing at The Portage SWCD Office located at 6970 State Route 88, Suite C, in Ravenna from 8:00AM-4:00PM.
Public Records Request
The Portage Soil & Water Conservation District follows Ohio law in responding to requests for public records. Our office will provide copies of any public record of this office that must be provided by law. Contact the Program Assistant for record request information at (330)235-6798 or email: [email protected]
Conservation Incentives Program
In an effort to encourage conservation practices during this pandemic, Portage SWCD is partnering with the Edith Chase Symposium and the Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers to provide educational resources and native plants & seeds to make our yards more inviting to all creatures! Perhaps our health instincts are kicking in because COVID-19 has spurred unprecedented visits to our local, state and national parks. We want to help you bring some of that mental and environmental health into your own yard! The best way to create a more natural landscape that will attract wildlife to your yard is to add native plants. Whether you are a new gardener or a seasoned expert we hope you will partner with us to get more native plants in the ground! Each entry is eligible for a plant or native packet of native seeds. See some of our conservation options below:
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Department » Health and Human Services
Healthy People Portage County began in 1999 as a community wide initiative with the goal of establishing an ongoing process for identifying and addressing health needs in Portage County.
The intent of Healthy People Portage County’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is to foster successful partnerships in order to improve the health of our community. The Healthy People Portage County Executive Committee, which represents a broad spectrum of Portage County community stakeholders including constituents from education, government, health care, not-for-profit agencies, and coalitions, reviewed county and state health data in relationship to the State of Wisconsin’s health priorities and national health objectives for 2020 and beyond. The executive committee is behind the scenes at each stage of the CHIP to ensure successful implementation. The mission, vision, and values of Healthy People Portage County are as follows:
Mission: Promoting and working for community health and improvement through access to services and fostering healthier environments.
Vision: Optimal wellbeing through safe and healthy environments in the Portage County community.
Values: Wellbeing, Support, Community, Collaboration.
Every citizen of Portage County has a responsibility to improve the community. To be a part of the Healthy People Portage County Initiative, please contact either Gary Garske, Health Officer, or Elizabeth Beck, Community Health Planner, at the contact information listed below:
Gary Garske: 715-345-5745 or
Elizabeth Beck: 715-345-5702 or
2019-2023 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
Healthy People Portage County, in partnership with Portage County Health and Human Services - Division of Public Health, worked to develop the 2019-2023 Community Health Improvement Process and Plan (CHIPP). This plan is the final product of a collaborative effort between government agencies, non-profits, coalition members, health care providers, schools, businesses, and community members. The CHIPP plan assists in mobilizing organizations, community members, and other stakeholders to work together on improving and preventing health issues in Portage County.
Health Focus Areas: (please click on any of the areas below for more information)
- Mental Health
- Healthy Weight
- Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse (AODA)
Other Ways to Make an Impact
Read the 2019-2023 CHIP and communicate the Health Focus Areas to family, friends, and organizations you’re connected to.
Healthy Weight
- Attend summer and winter Farmers Markets, contribute to local food drives, strive to consume fruits and vegetables every day
- Achieve some form of physical activity every day, and strive to follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for exercise
- Support breastfeeding
AODA:
- Encourage family and friends with alcohol/drug related concerns to seek treatment
- Turn expired or unused prescriptions into Portage County community take-back events
- Drink responsibly and serve as a positive role model for the children in your life
Mental Health:
- Ask your employer or organization to participate in Question, Persuade, and Refer training
- Reduce stigma about mental illness by learning more at National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Show support to those who are currently affected by mental illness by not isolating them and asking how you can help
CHIPP Annual Reports
- 2021 CHIPP Annual Report
- 2020 CHIPP Annual Report
- 2019 CHIPP Annual Report
2017 Local Indicators for Excellence Report (LIFE)
The Portage County Local Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) Report was published in 2017 to provide an overview of the quality of life in Portage County. The LIFE Report was guided by a 17 member team of community leaders from local businesses, government, school, public safety, and health institutions. This collaboration created an encompassing report that found key focus areas in our community.
Follow link for full LIFE Report: //www.unitedwaypoco.org/2017LifeReport
2014-2018 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
This plan was created by bringing key stakeholders in Portage County together to brainstorm health areas to focus on and set goals to improve these priorities. The Community Health Improvement team worked with the Portage County Health and Human Services Department to identify needs at the forefront of community concern.
Health Focus Areas:
- Reducing Obesity in Portage County through Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA)
- Mental Health
Achievements from 2014-2018 CHIP:
- According to County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Portage County’s food environment index has remained stable at 8.2 (0=worst, 10=best)
- Increased the initiation and duration of breastfeeding for Portage County mothers
- Supported access to local farmers markets through WIC and eWIC
- Portage County continued to actively support the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training was offered in a community forum and has also been provided in other community settings and workplaces
- According to Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS) data, 70.2% of Portage County students report that they have at least one teacher or other adult they can talk to if they have a problem
- The Portage County AODA Coalition completed a strategic plan and formed action teams
- Supported county-wide social host ordinance
- Hosted the Portage County Wake Up Call Community Event
- Supported education on trauma-informed care and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Worked with the Community Health In Action (CHIA) Project: Strategy Map and Dashboard for AODA
- Supported drug take-back events, which in April 2017 brought in 35 boxes of prescription drugs, about 1,000 pounds
- The Wisconsin Wins program conducted tobacco sale compliance checks across Portage County with the assistance of law enforcement, strengthening county relationships