Environmental Affairs Advisory Board

The Environmental Affairs Advisory Board (EAAB) oversees many critical areas of our community, from the health and welfare of our citizens to implementing recycling programs. EAAB members study and advise courses of action which the Communications, Environmental and Recreational Programming (CERP) Committee of City Council may take to formulate and promote general and broad codes of land, air and water management for the city.   

Subcommittees within the EAAB include:

Questions? Please email Ward 1 Councilman Rob Shahmir at rshahmir@avonlake.org. 

Quick Links 

Members  |  Meetings  |  Resources  |  Environmentally Speaking Programs 

Members

The EAAB consists of 14 voting members appointed by City Council for terms of two (2) years each. Up to six (6) members are employees or representatives of industrial concerns located within the City who possess knowledge, technical capability, or interest in matters relating to air and/or water management, and can competently represent their industry. Industry representatives are not required to be City residents.  

The other members of the EAAB are City residents who are not employees of industrial concerns located in the city, nor hold elective office in the City adminstration. Resident members are selected for their knowledge, technical ability, or genuine interest in matters related to air and/or water management in the city. 

In addition to voting members, the City's Mayor, Public Works Director, Finance Director (or designee), and one member of the Communications, Environmental and Recreational Programming (CERP) Committee shall serve as ex-officio members of the EAAB without voting powers.

Resident Representatives:

  • Rita George (term ending 12/31/2025)
  • Kayla Goodwin (term ending 12/31/2025)
  • Eric Krieg (term ending 12/31/2025)
  • Martin Matuszak (term ending 12/31/2025) 
  • Amy Oliver (term ending 12/31/2025)
  • Marty Patton (term ending 12/31/2025)
  • Jonathan Potrzeba (12/31/2025) 
  • Terry Robison (term ending 12/31/2025)
  • Terry Wyrock (term ending 12/31/2025) 

Industry Representatives:

  • Tom Sulzer, Avient™
  • Steven Meyers, Ford Motor Company
  • Ron Spears, Lubrizol Corporation 
  • David Messinger, Vestolit 
  • VACANCY

Council Representative:

  • Rob Shahmir, City Council - Ward 1, Communications, Environmental and Recreational Programming (CERP) Committee Chair

Ex-Officio Representatives:

  • Mark Spaetzel, Mayor, City of Avon Lake 
  • Beth Krosse, Finance Director, City of Avon Lake 
  • Jon Liskovec, Public Works Director, City of Avon Lake 

Meetings 

Meetings are typically held the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lake House, 32756 Lake Road.

Resources

  • Our Drinking Water — The City of Avon Lake and Avon Lake Regional Water (ALRW) work extremely hard to provide our community safe and clean water, but understanding exactly the what and why of science can be confusing. This ALRW Water Quality Report can sort out some of your questions.
  • Our Lake — According to Ohio Department of Natural Resources, fallen leaves provide an excellent habitat for wildlife, but they can also be a significant source of phosphorus in urban stormwater. When large piles of raked leaves are too close to streets, the excess nutrients play a part in fueling the algae blooms in Lake Erie. Help us keep algae blooms out of Lake Erie by keeping leaf piles away from storm drains. You can also mulch your leaves to add a boost of nutrients to your lawn, use the leaves to jumpstart a compost pile for your garden in spring, or just “leaf” them be as habitat! Explore additional resources and references. 
  • Rust Belt Riders Composting Service — The City of Avon Lake partners with the Rust Belt Riders neighborhood food scrap drop-off program which diverts scraps from landfills and put them back into the ecosystem in a healthy and sustainable way. Learn more.
  • Educate Youth About Wasted Food — Involving children in the planning, shopping, cooking of food and managing of leftovers teaches them sustainable habits and skills at an early age that potentially will stick throughout their lives. Small changes over time make a big difference and can extend outward from the classroom to the home, and eventually the community at large. For more information, visit the EPA Sustainable Management of Food website. 

Environmentally Speaking Programs

These programs are presented in partnership with the Avon Lake Public Library and Avon Lake’s Environmental Affairs Advisory Board (EAAB), that addresses the environmental concerns of Avon Lake's residents. Each session focuses on a different topic presented by experts who provide tools and resources for making an impact in our community. Use the links below to watch presentations: