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Commissioners approve LEPC appointments after swapping communications representative
Summary
The board appointed members and alternates to the Local Emergency Planning Committee and amended the list to make county communications staff a voting member and a 9-1-1 staffer an alternate; commissioners discussed member roles required by state ORC.
Lorain County commissioners on July 29 approved appointments to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) effective Aug. 1. During discussion the board amended the appointments to make Todd Sharkey the voting member for communications and media and Kurt Scholl the alternate for that position.
Commissioners and emergency-management staff discussed why certain positions are listed as members versus alternates. Emergency-management staff explained that the state Ohio Revised Code requires specific positions — for example the information coordinator and emergency coordinator roles — to be voting members on the LEPC; staff noted that some individuals appear in multiple roles (for example as a nonvoting secretary and separately as a required information coordinator). Commissioners asked to ensure the county’s IT and 9-1-1 leadership are appropriately represented. Commissioner Gallagher said local government responsibilities in communications have grown as private media outlets and local FM stations decline.
Action: The board approved the appointments and accepted the amendment switching the communications/media voting seat to Todd Sharkey, with Kurt Scholl as alternate. The vote was unanimous.
Why it matters: The LEPC coordinates hazardous-materials reporting and other emergency planning activities required under state statute; ensuring the correct county officials occupy statutory roles affects the county’s ability to meet Tier II reporting and other state requirements.
