SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Last week, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Engineer Alan Brubaker received the 2023 Urban Conservation Award from the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District for outstanding financial and technical support of the Surface Water Management District.
“I am proud to receive this award and to say that we at the County remain deeply committed to protecting our environment and our residents,” said Executive Shapiro, “My team has put in a tremendous effort to rally community support and leverage federal funding to make this work possible, but we absolutely could not do it without the leadership of Engineer Brubaker and his staff. While you may not notice a difference in your day-to-day, our rivers and roads certainly do.”
“I am honored to receive this award alongside Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. Collaboration between our offices, Summit Soil and Water, and communities around the county has allowed us to make a difference in the lives of all our residents. Without practical financial investments towards surface water management, Summit County’s water quality and infrastructure would be at risk of deteriorating. Our goal is to provide a better community to reside in, and without the help and cooperation of our community and its partners, none of that would be possible.”
The Surface Water Management District serves 11 communities across the County with the goal of preventing stormwater and runoff from degrading the environment and vital infrastructure. Summit County has committed $18.8 million toward protecting creeks, streams, rivers, wetlands, and lakes from the harmful effects of runoff, and continues to prevent erosion and flooding from damaging roads, businesses, and homes.
