McHenry Times

Woodstock Environmental Commission met Thursday, Feb. 9.

City of Woodstock Environmental Commission is located at 121 W Calhoun St, Woodstock.

Here are the minutes as provided by Woodstock:

MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION February 9, 2017 City Council Chambers

A Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission of the City of Woodstock was called to order at 5:15 PM on Thursday, February 9, 2017 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL

A roll call was taken.

COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Laurie Kacmar, Jacki Krandel, E. Ellinghausen, Steve Wenzel, and Chair Erica Poremba.

COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: none.

STAFF PRESENT: Assistant Public Works Director Tom Migatz and Chief Deputy City Clerk Jane Howie

OTHERS PRESENT: none.

III. PUBLIC COMMENT: none.

IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. Staff Liaison Updates

(1) Community Garden

T. Migatz is waiting to hear back from Wayne Read. He will attend a Commission meeting in the near future. He added that Mr. Read’s business is interested in having the community garden located on their property.

B. Discussion of 2017 Meeting Dates and Additional Special Meetings There was a consensus of the Commission that Regular Meetings will occur on the first Thursday of each month at 5:15 PM.

S. Wenzel arrived at 5:18 PM.

If Special meetings are needed, they will be scheduled on the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM. The next Special Meeting will be on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 5:30 PM.

L. Kacmar continued her researched on environmental categories and priorities. She discussed four categories for High Priority Items.

• Community Education and Outreach,

• Energy,

• Sustainable Economic and Public Policy, and

• Transportation.

In addition, she went through this Commission’s list of High Priority items and placed them into the appropriate categories; which are based on information she located on the City of Chicago’s website; Environmental and Sustainability. She mentioned that the Commissioners also need to determine their Strategy, Action, and Targeted Audience.

The Commissioners will review their High Priority list along with the categories and compile a document to present to City Council.

E. Poremba mentioned, on a side note, she has a rough draft of “Our Story”, which pertains to the reusable bag initiative. She has been going through the document and revising it, but there’s still a lot of work to do here. She noted there are so many pieces involved, so it’s important to stay on task and get this completed.

II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:

Acceptance of Minutes from October 6, 2016 meeting: Motion by S Wenzel, second by L. Kacmar, to approve Minutes from the October 6, 2016 Meeting: Ayes: Laurie Kacmar, E. Ellinghausen, and Steve Wenzel. Nayes: None. Absentees: None. Abstentions: Jaci Krandel and Chair Erica Poremba. Minutes were accepted.

Acceptance of Minutes from November 3, 2016 meeting: Motion by J. Krandel, second by S. Wenzel, to approve Minutes from the November 3, 2016 Meeting: Ayes: Jaci Krandel, Steve Wenzel, and Chair Erica Poremba. Nayes: None. Absentees: None. Abstentions: Laurie Kacmar and Ed Ellinghausen. Minutes were accepted.

Acceptance of Minutes from December 1, 2016 meeting: Motion by E. Poremba, second by L. Kacmar, to approve Minutes from the December 1, 2016 Meeting: Ayes: Laurie Kacmar, Jaci Krandel, Steve Wenzel, and Chair Erica Poremba. Nayes: None. Absentees: None. Abstentions: E. Ellinghausen. Minutes were accepted.

J. Krandel would like to thank the Morning Rotary for the recycling bins and send a ‘Thank You’ to their group. E. Poremba will review the article and write something up for the Rotary.

J. Krandel discussed some issues with the cigarette butt receptacles on the Square. She said the area in front of Main Street PourHouse looks horrible, and she’d like to know what can be done to remedy this re-occurring problem. In addition, the Commission would like to remind everyone of proper disposal.

L. Kacmar did a follow-up on the gypsum board chipper. She called Woodstock’s Ralph’s Rent-All to find out if they had this machine on hand; they did not and seemed unaware of it. L. Kacmar shared some information and suggested they look into purchasing one to rent out to contractors and such.

L. Kacmar came across a facility on Route 14 in Cary; Lowe Enterprises Inc. This business allows people to drop off recycling items from construction and demolition sites, as well as debris, and more. The employees then hand separate materials and send materials off to appropriate recycling facilities, which pay Lowe Enterprises for these materials. J. Krandel asked if this business would take items after a house fire. If so, this information could be useful for Woodstock Fire / Rescue District. The Commission will do some further research into this company’s services. This information can be beneficial to Woodstock and McHenry County residents and businesses.

E. Ellinghausen said he has continued working with T. Migatz on the Water Treatment Plant. Their work pertains to capturing salt brine created as part of the treatment process for possible use in anti-icing.

Future Agenda Items: Community Gardens will be discussed at the Regular Meeting on March 2, 2017 beginning at 5:15 PM; Citizens’ Climate Lobby will be discussed at the Special Meeting on March 16, 2017 beginning at 5:30 PM.

V. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by S. Wenzel, second by J. Krandel, to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission. Ayes: Laurie Kacmar, Jaci Krandel, E. Ellinghausen, Steve Wenzel, and Chair Erica Poremba. Nays: None. Absentees: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:38 PM until the next Regular Meeting on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 5:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Howie, Chief Deputy City Clerk