|
Mission Statement
Providing quality professional, technical, and engineering support services that exceed the needs and expectations of our customers.
Historical Background
The position of Chief Engineer was established by an administrative directive in 1959, and the Office of Chief Engineer became a statutory group in 1961. Legislation specifies that the Chief Engineer must be a registered professional engineer. In October 1994, per Chapter 1507 of the Ohio Revised Code, the Office of Chief Engineer became the Division of Engineering.
When the office was first established, contracts for engineering and construction were handled by the Ohio Department of Public Works (now the Department of Administrative Services). This caused some duplication of effort, additional administrative expense, and the problem of ODNR being funded for capital improvements and ODPW authorizing expenditures for construction. Legislation was enacted in 1963 giving ODNR the authority to conduct its own design and construction activities on lands and waters under the control of ODNR. All design and construction personnel of the various divisions at that time were consolidated under the Office of Chief Engineer. Today, with a budget of $5,853,322, the Division of Engineering employs 62 people.
Main Purpose
The Division of Engineering provides engineering, architectural, land surveying, and related technical and administrative support services required by the ODNR land holding divisions in improving, utilizing and managing their properties and associated resources. It also is the principal representative of the director in all aspects of engineering, planning, designing, contracting, surveying, inspecting, and managing construction projects and the department's capital improvement program, including NatureWorks. The division also:
- Implements the Lake Erie shore erosion protection program and provides engineering support for Ohio's Coastal Management Program.
- Prepares the department's capital improvements budget and oversees capital expenditures.
- Administers all capital improvement activities involving the State Controlling Board.
- Operates the Burr Oak Water System, a public water supply with 15,000 customers.
- Assists with the operation and maintenance of all ODNR facilities.
- Provides technical support for various cooperative grants programs (Waterways Safety, NatureWorks, etc.).
- Serves as ODNR liaison with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on roadway maintenance projects, and with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) on disaster and emergency response assistance.
- Coordinates department review of petition ditch projects.
- Coordinates various activities with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Priorities
- Burr Oak Water System
- Capital Improvements Budget Implementation
- Coastal Engineering Program
- Facilities Technical Support
- Consultant Selection Program
- Emergency Response Coordination
- Corps of Engineers Coordination
Significant Accomplishments
- Completed second of two-phase construction program for Villa Angela area at Cleveland Lakefront State Park in 1998. Total for both phases was $6.4 million.
- Completed $24 million of NatureWorks projects at ODNR facilities throughout Ohio within past 3-1/2 years.
- In 1997, completed $1,190,993 emergency restoration of over 6,000 feet of dike along Lake Erie for the Division of Wildlife at Magee Marsh, saving valuable wetlands from possible Lake Erie flooding.
- Provided coordination/staffing at state Emergency Operations Center, evaluated damage to ODNR facilities and administered federal aid through major flood disasters in March 1997 and June 1998.
|