MORPC Interns thankful for the opportunity to see Lancaster firsthand

LANCASTER − There have been three extra pairs of hands on deck at Lancaster City Hall this summer.

The City of Lancaster has had the opportunity to host three interns this summer, with internships starting in May and slated to end in August. These interns, who are being given a valuable opportunity themselves, were brought in thanks to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) Local Government Internship Program.

Ally Pasanen, a student at the Ohio State University, is interning with the Lancaster GIS Department. As a city planning major with a minor in geographic information science, this is a natural role for Pasanen to fit into.

Pasanen said that she is currently working together with a fellow intern on the Urban Tree Canopy Project.

"We're going out in a pilot area, it's from Main to Fair to High to Cherry and we're taking an inventory using a GPS of the trees, driveway edges, all that, to map out where we can put new trees," said Pasanen.

According to Pasanen, the opportunity to intern for GIS has been very helpful. She said that it has been especially beneficial to get a firsthand look at the inner workings of the government.

"I really like GIS and I think it's a helpful skill to have," said Pasanen. "I think that the biggest way that this has helped me is just seeing how government works, it's given me a lot of insight into what a career in government could look like and I've met a lot of interesting people."

The most important lesson that Pasanen said she has learned during her internship is the importance of having genuine care for the community she is working in.

"I really like how everyone seems to care a lot about the city and what they're doing," said Pasanen. "So, I think that was the biggest takeaway because that's something that I want to do is like really care a lot about where I'm working and who I'm helping. I think I've noticed that a lot here."

Mackayla Culbertson, a student at the Ohio State University, is one of the city's other MORPC interns. Majoring in Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability with a specialization in community development, Culbertson is interning with the Parks & Recreation Department.

Culbertson works alongside her fellow intern Pasanen on the Urban Tree Canopy Project as well as doing other work for the parks department.

"I was hired through tree commission to help them map out their Urban Tree Canopy Project," said Culbertson.

A theme among the three city interns in their interviews was the importance of seeing how local government works up close and personal.

"I think that this has really helped me understand more about local government, which I had never really understood," said Culbertson. "We learn about stuff in our classes, but actually getting that firsthand, real-life experience is very helpful."

Culbertson said that during her time with the city, she has come to find role models. Among those role models was Parks Superintendent Steve Gayfield.

Overall, Culbertson said that her internship with the city has been a positive experience.

"I would say that overall, we've had a really good experience," said Culbertson. "I think that there is a little bit of monotony to the work we do, just because it is a lot of field work, but that's kind of part of being an intern."

The third and final MORPC intern is Mack Ito, a student at Miami University, who is majoring in public administration. Ito's internship has him working with the service safety director and mayor.

He said that while he technically works with the service safety director, he does the majority of his work with Lancaster Economic Development.

Ito said that one of his primary duties is working on the Lancaster Port Authority website, which he explained in greater detail.

"That would be advertising the city to anyone who would want to come and set up shop here," said Ito. "The biggest thing would be industrial manufacturing companies and stuff like that, so making sure that it is applicable not only from a tax incentive, but people want to have people who work here to be local to Lancaster. So, making sure that it looks like a place that people would want to move to for the jobs, for the factories, that is the most important thing."

As most of his work is with Lancaster Economic Development and the Lancaster Port Authority, Ito has worked closely with Lancaster Economic Development Director and Lancaster Port Authority Executive Director Stephanie Bosco. He said that her commitment to the Lancaster community has been an important thing to see firsthand.

"I didn't know what to expect coming in," said Ito. "I never really thought about what was going on in government, so getting to work with Stephanie Bosco, obviously she has so many different things. She's part of rotary, she's part of almost everything. I wasn't anticipating working for someone who is so hardcore into their community as her so that's been very interesting and exciting for me to work with someone who really cares about what's going on."

Ito gave a glowing review of his time as a summer intern in Lancaster.

"I've had a really good time here," said Ito. "I think, just where I'm located, I get to see everything happen. That was the most exciting thing, you're right in the heart of Lancaster so you feel a connection to where you're serving."

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: MORPC Interns thankful for the opportunity to see Lancaster firsthand