Environmental Improvement Commission

MINUTES Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission Tuesday, May 24, 2016 Roll Call: Chairman Ted Witte called the meeting to order at 7:30. Present were Nancy Allured, Cathy Coleman, Nancy Flynn, Tony Pope, Christine Richarson, Arlan Schattke, Hanna Self, Joseph Wilmarth Tyna, and Bob Young. Absent were Tony Majszak, Kay McKeen, and Allison Torrence. Also attending was Wheaton resident Kate Vashkevich, who participated in the Prairie Path Clean Up and is interested in volunteering. Minutes: Tony moved that we accept the minutes of the April meeting. Nancy Allured seconded. The minutes were approved. Public Comment: Kate told us that she emigrated from Belarus with her husband, and she is happy in her new home and wants to do what she can to help. Budget Report: Bob reported that our expenditures for the year ending April 30 are $19,937.91, including most of the bills from the Native Plant Sale, using most of our $21,500 budget. Other Reports: 1. Bike Sub Committee Report: Nancy Allured reported that the sub-committee will provide a bike valet area at the Taste of Wheaton again this year. Signs are up on the Prairie Path and in parks, and the city sent out an email. 2. Recycling Report: Tony reported that he, Bob, Joe, and Arlan worked with 8 high school volunteers on the 13th. There was at least a full truck of electronics and about 5 gallons of cooking oil. People are still bringing CRT TVs. 3. Illinois Prairie Path Clean Up: Tracy emailed that about 170 volunteers cleaned up approximately 6.5 miles of trail throughout Wheaton. Along with many individuals, we also had one Boy Scout Troop, three Cub Packs, two schools, and three service organizations. 33 bags of trash and 10 bags of recyclables were collected. 4. Native Plant Sale: Hanna reported about half of the customers were from Wheaton, and more than half were returning customers. Annette emailed that 360 people purchased plants. Approximately 5,260 plants (trees, shrubs, gallons, quarts, pints and plugs)were sold. 5. Arbor Day Report: The students at Washington School and the Wheaton Forestry Department put on a wonderful program with a song, poems, and speeches. Mayor Gresk and School Superintendent Schuler attended. 6. River Sweep Report: no report 7. Adopt a Highway: Nancy Flynn reported that EIC held the second clean up of the year on May 21, and Tony and Annette Pope, Nancy and Brent Flynn, Allison, Bob, Nancy A, and Christine and her son Dylan collected 10 bags of garbage. Upcoming Projects: 1. Electronic Recycling (June11): Tony and Arlan will be crew chiefs. Joe and Bob are unable to attend and high school volunteers will not be available. 2. Adopt a Highway: Nancy Flynn suggested clean ups every other month on the 3rd or 4th Saturday. The Democratic Party of Milton Township are scheduled to clean up this weekend, after their first date was rained out. 3. Bike Fest (August 13) Unfinished Business: 1. Street Lamp Banners and Feather Signs Design Contest: no report 2. Waste Hauling Contract: no update 3. EIC Mission Statement: no report New Business: 1. Library Donation: Hanna brought two book suggestions and will also check with the Arboretum. Bob moved that we allocate up to $100 for two books. Cathy seconded. The motion carried. Nancy A. suggested thinking about what the book plates should say. 2. EIC elections: The slate of officers was Ted as Chairman, Bob as Treasurer, Cathy as Secretary. The Commission voted in favor of this slate. Adjournment: Nancy Allured moved that the meeting be adjourned. Bob seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10. The next regular EIC meeting is scheduled for June 28, 2016, at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Coleman