Environmental Advisory Board Meeting

Minutes Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board 17 January 2023 The January meeting of the ODEAB opened at 5:30pm in the Town Hall. Attendees were Sue Adams, Frank Lani, Bianca Passo, and Karl Krismanic. Vicky Albritton was out of town, Jon Lehman absent, and Carol Angarola still in the process of submitting her application. One seat remains vacant. 1. Frank asked that a review of the new ODEAB webpage and links be added to the agenda (see below). 2. Bianca moved to accept the November minutes. Sue seconded. The motion carried. 3. Sue nominated Bianca for Chair. Frank seconded. The vote was 3-0 in her favor. Bianca accepted the position. 4. Save the Dunes Pollution Prevention Roundtable meets bimonthly via Zoom. There was no meeting in December. Bianca will get us information for signing in and hopes another member w ill be interested in participating regularly via Zoom. 5a. There is no evidence Cleveland Cliffs has done anything in response to the summary judgement in favor of EPLC. It does not appear that CC has taken any steps to resolve the reported discrepancies in flow rates, the extent of the spills, and the content of the spills (November at Outfall 002 & December at Outfall 011). 5b. There is nothing new on US Steel Midwest. 5c. Monitors will be appointed at our next meeting. 6a. The Residential Lighting Task Force received about two dozen suggestions/complaints for improving street lighting. No additional input is being sought. 6b. NIPSCO indicated they will install shields on some of the street lights in Spring. 6c. TC nixed Sue’s recommended Lighting Code. The chronic problem is that the OD Police are the only enforcement mechanism and they are both understaffed and fearful of litigation. 7a. Susan submitted her/our proposal to the Master Plan Committee. Susan gave up on the idea of an ordinance about native/invasive flora, largely due to the chronic enforcement problem. 7b. The proposal includes a plan for the ongoing restoration of Long Lake Marsh 8a. Rather than an ordinance, Susan is proposing a TC resolution acknowledging Native Species Week ( https://www.nisaw.org Feb. 20-26). A draft copy was distributed. This suggests that we should begin forming ideas, perhaps with Susan in attendance, re these matters. 8b. Discussions are ongoing with Code Review regarding storing items on the beach, no prescribed fires on Election Day, and Residential Lighting. 9. We need to replace Jim’s role as liaison to the Septic Coordination Workgroup. 10. Nothing new on Beach Clean-Up. 11. Nothing new on Beach Water Quality Monitoring. 12. Recycling and other links on the ODEAB have been revised. They will be finalized as soon as our members have had a chance to comment on the changes. Frank distributed a copy of the links and urged members to open and view them on the ODEAB webpage. Karl reported that the town has set aside about $12,000 for recycling in 2023. 13. Nothing new on MS4 waiver, though we now have located the earlier request for waiver. 14. Nothing new on Long Lake Marsh. We should now revisit Susan’s Master Plan proposal. 15. We need to consider how a Community Fund Grant might support the work of the ODEAB. 16. Ideas were discussed concerning our focus going forward: Lighting (Website, Email Blasts, Training Meetings), Recycling (ditto, Town Composting, TC & OD Depts), Planting for Pollinators (ditto, Raffle, Expert Speakers, Resurrect Garden Club, Wildlife Certification), Communication (ditto, Table at Town Events, Raffle, Plant Sales, Tree/Bird/Bee Certifications, Signage, Town Infrastructure, Silly Competitions, Kids, etc) 17. Next Meeting: 21 February 2023 The meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm. Submitted by Frank Lani