Congratulations, Steve Hambley!

Medina County Commissioner Stephen D. Hambley is the recipient of the 2008 Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. Award for Outstanding Regional Contribution. NOACA Governing Board President Mary E. Samide presented Hambley with the award at NOACA’s 9th annual Summit held Friday, June 13, 2008.

Hambley has served as Medina County Commissioner and member of the NOACA Governing Board since 1997. He has held every office on the Board, serving twice as president (2001 and 2006). In the early 2000s, Hambley chaired NOACA’s 208 Water Quality Subcommittee, which dealt with water quality issues and concerns. From 2001 – 2003, he led the Northeast Ohio Regional Stormwater Task Force, which prepared a model plan for the region’s communities to meet the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II regulations. Hambley has also been an active member of NOACA’s Transportation Advisory Committee for the past decade.

Hambley chairs the Rocky River Watershed Council, which NOACA formed in 2001 to oversee development of an action plan to protect the water quality of the Rocky River. Initially, Hambley served as Council co-chair along with Strongsville Mayor Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr.

Hambley also chairs the Natural Resources Assistance Council, which distributes $1.5 million a year under the Clean Ohio Program for the Huron-Lorain-Medina district of the Ohio Public Works Commission. This program has been responsible for major grants to Medina County for an expansion of Plum Creek Park, a future Killbuck Creek Park in Westfield Township, Gloria Glens Village Parks, and the purchase of Chippewa Lake by the Medina County Park District. Hambley is also active in the Voices and Choices Initiative in northeast Ohio, serving as the Medina County Leadership Development Co-chair.

Prior to being elected Medina County Commissioner, Hambley served on the Brunswick City Council for five years. He currently is an adjunct professor at Lorain Community College and Lakeland Community College.

Hambley earned a Master of Arts degree in 1985 and PhD in 1993 from the University of Akron. His dissertation focused on the history of urban railways in Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown. Hambley resides in Brunswick, Ohio with his wife Susan, a Brunswick City Councilwoman.