Jo Ellen Litz

Experience

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  Cedar Crest High School

  Jan 1966 - Jan 1969

  County Commissioner Student

  Graduate

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  Swatara Watershed Inc.

  Jan 1983 - Jan 2023

  President

  Work to educate people about and preserve clean water. Worked to create the Swatara Water Trail, a regional, state, and nationally recognized canoe and kayaking trail. Worked to save the Bordner Cabin, an historic hand-hewn log cabin created by a shop teacher and his students using materials--logs and stone--found on site. This Rustic Architecture is located on Old State Road in Swatara State Park, and serves as a stop along the Swatara Water Trail.Worked to acquire the Swatara Watershed Park at 1929 Black's Bridge Road, Annville PA. Primitive seasonal camping, fishing, a boat launch, and pavilion are part of this family oriented park. Show less

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  County of Lebanon

  Jan 1996 - now

  County Commissioner

  Serves as the legislative and administrative body of the County – setting policy, enacting ordinances and resolutions, adopting budgets and levying taxes. Also perform executive functions such as formulating the budget, enforcing ordinances, approving expenditures and hiring employees. Protecting Children. Serving Families. Securing Justice. Managing Emergencies. Safeguarding Elections.

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  Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce

  Jan 1996 - Dec 2011

  County Commissioner Liaison

  My service to the Chamber of Commerce included attending Board meetings, functions, and openings of new businesses to thank them for choosing to do business in and provide jobs to residents of Lebanon County.

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  Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation

  Jan 1996 - Dec 2011

  County Commissioner Liaison

  As the Board liaison for the County Commissioners, I attended LVEDC Board meetings where loans were made to support existing businesses and farms. Further, meetings and bus tours were sometimes held with prospective new employers to encourage them to locate in Lebanon PA.

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  Lebanon County Conservation District

  Jan 1996 - Dec 2011

  County Commissioner

  As the commissioner liaison, I was a voting member of the Lebanon County Conservation District Board for 19 years. We approved farm conservation plans, supported envirothons for elementary, middle and high school students, held tree seedling sales, preserved farms, provided community outreach and education, and implemented NPDES storm water plans.

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  County of Lebanon Transit

  Jan 1996 - Jan 2011

  Liaison to Lebanon Transit

  Bus service. Started Commute King, a service to Hershey Medical Center and the capitol.

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  Lebanon Daily News

  Jan 1996 - Jan 2009

  County Commissioner Patron

  Write letters to the editor; contribute photos for publication; post to the LDN Facebook page.

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  County Commissioner's Association of PA

  Jan 2012 - Dec 2012

  President (volunteer position)

  Represent commissioners from across Pennsylvania as they lobby for Human Services, Transportation, tax reform, the Marcellus Shale tax and more.

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  Lebanon County

  Jan 2012 - now

  911 dispatch, HazMat team, and emergency operation center response to emergencies.A commissioner’s duties include protecting children, serving families, securing justice, safeguarding elections, and managing emergencies.One of the most important duties of a commissioner in an emergency is to provide leadership by keeping people calm during a crisis. To that end, commissioner Jo Ellen Litz spoke about talents that each of us have. For most people, it's art, music, woodworking..., but for Litz, it's responding to people’s needs during times of crisis to bring people together as part of a solution rather than part of a problem. Examples include: • Working with 81 seamstresses to provide free PPE Personal Protective Equipment for first responders during the Coronavirus Pandemic (2020) when no PPE was available; • Arming Deputy Spotted Lanternfly Killers with fly swatters (2019) to tackle education & eradication of the invasive crop-eating pests; • Recruiting & Coordinating 75 Points of Light on Route 422 to mourn with Sandy Hook (2012) at the loss of children; • Providing Facebook posts to help individuals in crisis, like a widow, to get through the 2018 flood when she was trapped in her driveway when her house and roads were flooded; and• Creating a Community Emergency Response manual to shared how to talk to children with nightmares after the Campbelltown Tornado (2004); • Preparing for Y2K, when no one knew if the electric grid would fail due to programing error. It was a non-event, but preparation & planning took place in case redlights failed, prison doors unlocked…. The point made is that during emergencies, Lebanon County is at it's finest when people respond physically, by making donations, or praying. Show less

  • Liaison to Veterans Affairs

    Jan 2012 - now

  • Serving the Department of Emergency Services during times of Crisis

    Jan 2004 - now

  • Liaison to the Planning Department

    Jan 2012 - Dec 2014
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  State of PA

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2013

  Gubernatorial Candidate

  Visited all 67 PA counties.