Public Forums

The Division of Watercraft in April and May conducted 10 public forums to receive comments from boaters and others with an interest in recreational boating concerning future management of Ohio’s boating programs. These forums also were held to compile a comprehensive list of the concerns held by Ohio boaters and how the Division of Watercraft might best respond to those issues.

Each forum began with a brief overview of the Division’s history and scope of public service to Ohio boaters. A special feature of each public forum was the electronic survey in which attendees were polled and results recorded immediately on a variety of boating issues and topics. Results of those electronic polls held during each forum are available on the Division’s web page. [Results]

Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with Division staff to discuss specific topic areas such as registration and titling, law enforcement, boater education, the environment and other various boating topics. The forums were held in Millersport, Lewis Center, Dayton, Celina, Cambridge, Rootstown, Independence, Oak Harbor, Bethel and Portsmouth.

Comment forms also were offered at each event so that boating concerns could be recorded in writing. Additionally, boaters who did not attend the forums were given an opportunity to express their concerns in writing through June 30 and mail those comments directly to the Chief of the Division of Watercraft. [Submit Comments]

“We learned a lot and heard some very interesting comments on issues that impact boaters in different areas of the state,” said Pamela Dillon, chief of the Division of Watercraft. “These comments and others we have been receiving will be useful to our staff as we prepare a revision to our strategic management plan that will guide us in providing boating programs and services that best meet a diversity of needs among Ohio’s boating community.”