Battle Creek Area Clean Water Partners

Battle Creek Area Clean Water Partners Quarterly Meeting #3 Minutes December 16, 2020, 3:30 pm ZOOM call Attendees: Jody Smith (DENSO Corp.), Stephen Lewis (Battle Creek Public Schools), Chandra Youngblood (Battle Creek Public Schools), Terry Blaniar (City of Springfield), Andrew Story (Kellogg Community College), Matthew Hanauer (EGLE), Chris Kosmowski (MDARD), Cheryl Vosburg (Kalamazoo River Watershed Council), Jim Coury (Citizen), Kurt Tribbett (City of Battle Creek), Patty Hoch-Melluish (City of Battle Creek), Bessie Stears (City of Battle Creek) • Introductions • Approval of Agenda (Tribbett motioned, Blaniar seconded, all approved) • Approval of Sept. 10, 2020 minutes (Tribbett motioned, Blaniar seconded, all approved) • Discussion of the BCACWP Agreements o Hoch-Melluish will send out the Agreements to all for review and then the group can determine if changes need to be made in early 2021. Items to discuss – should dues be raised for Townships? • Presentation of 2020 budget and 2021 budget (Tribett motioned, Blaniar seconded, all approved to approve 2021 budget as presented, pending discussion with Townships) • 2021 Meeting schedule (Tribbett motioned, Blaniar seconded, all approved) • Illicit Discharge Elimination Program (IDEP) Outfall Inspection o Hoch-Melluish reported that the City of Battle Creek has completed 48 outfall inspections with 12 more scheduled for 2020. • IDEP video o City of Battle Creek (Stears) developed a new IDEP video for City employees, but we’ve shared with the public and other municipalities. Hoch-Melluish will share with Partners. • 2021 Calhoun County Calendars o Stears discussed distribution of 80 boxes to Partners and the community so far, with 40-50 boxes yet to distribute. • 2021 Public Education/Events o Hoch-Melluish discussed plans for 2021  Website/FB page  Recycling events w/County  Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership grant for Goguac Lake stormwater  EGLE planning grants RFP  Radio ads/Water Wednesdays  Shopper and Enquirer articles  Kosmowski added that there are monthly “themes” that we could focus on and there may be some existing letters to editor, etc. in City files that we can reuse for news articles.  DPW newsletter (2x/yr)  PIE Committee – need to start meeting more frequently and also be sure Nested Jurisdictions have a representative on the committee • Krazy for the Kazoo o Stears discussed the October 3, 2020 event and the accomplishments. 120 volunteers, 72 bags of trash, 2 semi-trailer loads of invasive species and brush removal. Also had participation from Denso and BC Area Math & Science Center. • Comments: o Blaniar said he will be retiring at the end of January 2021. The new Springfield representative will be Chaz Wilky. The group thanked Blaniar for his past support and participation and wished him well. o Vosburg said the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council will be starting a membership drive. More information will be coming on that. Also, they are following the Morrow Dam drawdown and providing input. o Hanauer mentioned the upcoming EGLE Watershed Planning Grant Request for Proposals for January 2021. He also said the City’s MS4 permit is being reviewed and may be approved in early 2021. This will be good for the following 5 years after approved. o Smith said that Denso is doing well with their environmental efforts. She also mentioned that Denso is currently hiring. • Upcoming Meetings: o 3/18/21 – 3:30 p.m. –Zoom or DPW to be determined • Meeting adjourned 4:15 pm.