Environmental Advisory Board Meeting

Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board Town Hall, October 18th, 2023 5:30 p.m. Attendees: Bianca Angarola, Karl Krizmanic, Frank Lani, Tom Davenport , Sue Adams, Vicky Albritton 1. Review and approve agenda – any additions? No 2. Review and Accept Minutes from Previous Meeting Frank motioned, Sue seconded 3. Long Lake Marsh Bianca reported on this season's Native Plant restoration events at Long Lake March. The first one was held on July 29th 8:30-10:30AM when we cleared out invasives; the second event was on October 7, 2023 9:30AM when we planted natives and threw down seeds in bare patches. Susan MiHalo advised that we should expect to wait 2-3 years before we see the results of this planting. Bianca said she will submit the final report to the community fund committee. 4. Save the Dunes Pollution Prevention Roundtable update No meeting in October. 5. Monitoring Nearby Industries https://www.in.gov/idem/resources/lake-michigan-sites-of- interest/ a. Cleveland Cliffs - (lacking report, but nothing obvious in the news) i. 2019 Fish kill natural resources settlement: Bianca had a meeting with Raeann Trakas, the Community Relations Representative from Cleveland Cliffs, and Thomas Maicher, the head of CC's environmental department. They said that there will soon be an opportunity for the public to comment on a third party study of the effects of the 2019 cyanide and ammonia spill on natural resources and wildlife in the area. The details are not yet out. The EAB will look over the study and submit comments within the alotted 30-day period. Vicky and Frank offered to help Bianca with this. b. U.S. Steel Midwest - Nothing to report c. PreCoat Metals - Nothing to report 6. Residential lighting task force (Sue Adams) - The streetlights have finally gone up. This is good timing since, Sue A will have to step down from the EAB soon. Both night drivers and local wildlife have her to thank for less glare and less light pollution in the night sky. 7. National Invasive Species Awareness Week a. February 2024 - The EAB will start brainstorming about possible events or plans for 2024. 8. Bird Town Sub-committee update Frank and Karl described the Town Council's problems with a proposed town resolution to safeguard wild birds. The wording still needs to be modified. Vicky and Frank will discuss. Vicky will move ahead with the Bird Town application, which has been redesigned and moved to a national platform online: Bird City Network (birdcity.org). 9. Septic Coordination Workgroup Report Vicky reported that the new Indiana septic information website is up and open for comment. She sent the EAB a link so they can assess it and report any glitches or other issues to Ashley Sharkey with the DNR. 10. Beach water quality monitoring a. Submit 2024 grant application Bianca said she will work on the grant application for continued monitoring. It's due at the end of November. The EAB considered a complaint about the water quality status signpost near the entrance to the town. But the post was issued as part of a grant and cannot be changed to match other town signposts. 11. Recycling - Nothing to report 12. Other - Sue has been looking at the new Purple Air monitors for Ogden Dunes. She believes one of them might not be working. She will contact someone from Purple Air about this. 13. Next Meeting – November Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm Minutes taken and submitted by Vicky Albritton