Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
State park manager takes new job
Assistant Manager Brian Miller to take over lead post; Giannola returns to area as regional manager
By Nancy Allen
GRAND LAKE - Craig Morton has left as manager of Grand Lake St. Marys State Park to take an assistant manager position at Pymatuning State Park near Andover on the Pennsylvania border. He starts his new job on Monday.
The park's assistant manager, Brian Miller, will become the new manager.
Morton also held the job of regional manager, which covered Grand Lake and Lake Loramie state parks. Frank Giannola, a former Grand Lake manager, now will become the regional manager.
"This was something that was offered to me by the chief of the division back in September," said Morton, who began his post at Grand Lake in late 2002. "My wife and I talked about it, and we decided it would be a good move."
Morton said the job change will allow him and his wife, Bonnie, to be closer to both of their families.
At his new job, Morton will be in charge of the maintenance department and programs, managing a staff of about 15 employees. Lake Pymatuning State Park is located in Ohio and Pennsylvania and has a 15,000-acre lake, most of which is located in Pennsylvania. The park's 58 cottages, active campground and many docks will keep his staff busy, he said.
Morton said Grand Lake's toxic algae and intense local interest in the dredging program are two of the things he will remember most about his former job. The dedicated people he has worked with and the area's geographical features also will stick with him, he said.
"It's a nice area with nice features," Morton said. "I was ready for a position with a little less stress, and I think this will meet the ticket."
Morton noted the maintenance staff alone at Lake Pymatuning is larger than the entire staff at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. The local park's full-time staff numbers 12 in the offseason and 28 during the summer. Morton said he did not know the exact number of employees at Lake Pymatuning State Park, but that is "easily twice that."
Grand Lake St. Marys State Park includes the park offices and campgrounds in Auglaize County and most of the perimeter of the 13,500-acre lake located in Mercer and Auglaize counties.
