Environmental Advisory Board Meeting

Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board Town Hall - June 20, 2023, 5:30 p.m. Attendees: Bianca Passo, Vicky Albritton, Tom Davenport, Jon Lehmann, Frank Lani, Susan Adams, Carol Angarola, as well as Karl Krizmanic and Susan MiHalo. 1. Review and approve agenda – any additions? - Yes: member term limits, beach storage/garbage issues, recent town clean-up report, contact sheet 2. Review and Accept Minutes from previous meeting. Frank moved, Susan A seconded. 3. New member – Tom Davenport approved. 4. Long Lake Marsh - Our Community Fund Grant has been officially approved and our funds are now available. Volunteer Days will be set for July and September, with Susan & Carol organizing. Susan A will help pick out the new lighting for the flagpole. Susan M and Bianca will discuss which plants will be planted and when. Bianca notes that advertising for the event should mention the Community Fund Grant. 5. Save the Dunes Pollution Prevention Roundtable update - N/A 6. Monitoring Nearby Industries https://www.in.gov/idem/resources/lake-michigan-sites-of-interest/ a. Cleveland Cliffs - Jon: Nothing significant to report. b. U.S. Steel Midwest - Vicky: Nothing significant to report. c. PreCoat Metals - Bianca: Everything was okay this month as far as emissions. IDEM received our comments and objections to PreCoat's request that they be allowed to increase their pollution emissions standards. Unfortunately, they responded that they were legally not allowed to reject PreCoat's request. 7. Residential lighting task force (Sue Adams) - Shielding will begin to be installed on July 5th. 8. ELPC Air Quality Monitoring Project - A contact with the ELPC (Environmental Law and Policy Center) will attend our meeting next month. Karl found a volunteer willing to have the new air quality monitor installed on their property. 9. National Invasive Species Awareness Week - February 2024 - N/A 10. Bird Town Sub-committee update - The sub-committee met before the EAB meeting (Frank, Karl, and Vicky attended). Karl said the Home Association and the town might approve land for a bird sanctuary more quickly if we pursue the parcel known as Serenity Park (access off Boat Club Road and Skyline). But during the EAB meeting, Pollywog Pond garnered renewed interest. Susan M pointed out that the use of herbicides in Pollywog Pond (to kill invasives) should not be a deterrent as they do not harm insects, a food source for birds. Pollywog Pond also offers a water source for birds and is more visible and easily accessed. More discussion with Town Council members and the Home Association is needed. 11. Septic Coordination Workgroup Report - Vicky attended the workgroup earlier in the day and reported that there was no urgent news to convey. IL-IN SeaGrant is still working on a new website that will one day allow for data collection and tracking of all remaining septic tanks in NW Indiana. In addition, the workgroup heard from James McGoff, the Indiana Finance Authority chief operating officer and director of environmental programs. He described how State Revolving Funds can potentially be used to help finance a shift from septic to municipal sewer systems. While there is a lot of money available to help finance low interest loans to towns, it is not clear how Ogden Dunes could use this money unless most homeowners support such a change. Vicky will contact Jim Biancotti, the ODEAB's former septic rep, to learn more about what's at stake here, and will write to other attendees at the meaning for further advice. 12. Beach Clean Up - September 16th, 2023 - Bianca will call Jim Biancotti about supplies. 13. Beach water quality monitoring - Nothing to report so far. Tom D noted that the way water is tested is inadequate, but it's the best we can do. He also noted that the sand itself could be tested (it is not) because sand is a reservoir for e. Coli. It can get washed right back into the lake after a storm. 14. Recycling - Nothing to report. 15. Other - additions a. Member terms - The town website listed inaccurate EAB member term dates. They should be replaced with the following term expiration dates: Vicky 1/1/25; Jon 1/1/25; Sue A and Bianca A 1/1/24; Tom and Carol 1.1.26. Every member can take a second consecutive three-year term but then they need to step aside for a year. b. Beach storage/garbage - Susan M said that people are already storing personal beach items and equipment in the rocks on the beach. More needs to be done to stop this. Items will be removed and put in the trash if they are tucked in the rocks like this. Residents need to be made more aware of the problem. The town could send out an email alert. c. Recent town clean-up day - Karl reported that it was an immense success. Many items deposited for recycling were picked up by a Chesterton refurbishing store (RePurpose Place). Other discarded functional items were simply scooped up by people who wanted them. d. Contact sheet - Jon suggested that we create a useful resources contact sheet for EAB members. TBD next meeting. 16. Next Meeting –July 18th. Vicky moved to adjourn, Sue A seconded. Meeting ended at 6:35 pm Notes taken and submitted by Vicky Albritton