Metro Parks seeking new commissioner

The Lorain County Metro Parks are seeking applicants to fill an open position on their threemember board of commissioners.

According to a release from Lorain County Probate Judge James T. Walther, the commissioner would be appointed immediately to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2018, and applicants should be willing to commit to two more three-year terms.

The board usually meets at 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month, and commissioners are required to attend other meetings and events as needed, the release said.

Commissioners serve without pay but are allowed actual and necessary expenses they incur while fulfilling their duties. Only Lorain County resident are eligible to the position, the release said.

Anyone interested in the position must send a letter of interest and their qualifications to: Judge James T. Walther, Lorain County Probate Court, 225 Court Street, Sixth floor, Elyria, OH 44035 Or email them to: jwalther@loraincounty.us.

Letters will only be accepted until Aug. 25 and must include home and employment addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

The position was opened by the death of 70-year-old Frederick L. Alspach in a July 19 crash in Wellington.

Alspach was killed while riding his 2000 Honda Helix scooter southbound on North Main Street approaching Kelly Street when he struck a 2010 Mercury Milan driven by a 51-year-old Wellington man who failed to yield to oncoming traffic, a press release at the time said.

He was appointed to the board in 2008, but worked closely with them while serving as a councilman in Wellington. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Wellington Reservation, according to Lorain County Metro Parks Executive Director Jim Ziemnik.

“He was a great, great board member,” Ziemnik said at the time.