Sustainability Committee Meeting Report 11-12-2013

Present: Russ Alwood, Margie Henry, Brian Smith, Mike Lyon, Peter Gallinat, Laura Coffee, Stephen Lawrence late. Alwood reported it only cost $245 to reset the broken Wind Turbine. Smith reported that Township Liability Insurance covered the community clean up day Group decided to have the Union Township Community Clean up day on June 21, 2014 Gallinat reported that the deadline for the tire grant was changed for the new funding year and has elapsed. Will look into other funding avenues Coffee reported that she just needs a population numbers to estimate the cost of a mailing for the Clean up day. Group decided to have no meeting for December. Meet back January 14, 2014. Meeting adjourned at 4:35pm

August 13, 2013 Report

Sustainability Committee Meeting Report 8-13-13


4pm

Committee Members Present: Mike Lyon, Rob Bidner, Phil Mikus. Absent: Laura Coffee, Steve

Lawrence, Tom Rohrer.

Also: Woody Woodruff, Russ Alwood, Margie Henry

1. Community Clean Up Day

a. Tentative date selected: June 21, 2013

b. Tentative site: CMU lot 63/64

c. Tentative Materials to collect: Tires, Rubbish/Trash, Metals

d. Tentative hours: 8am to 1pm

e. Committees to be formed and defined

e.i. Layout

e.ii. Insurance

e.iii. Safety

e.iv. Promotion/Advertising/Resource Info

e.v. Bidding

e.vi. Volunteers

e.vii. Refreshments

Committees will be defined and assigned; time line will be finalized at the September 17th

meeting.

Tentative Time Line: (some tasks are Manager/Staff function, others committee volunteers)

Sept 17 – define and assign committees, finalize timeline

Oct - Finalize agreement with University, establish budget including printing/mailing

Nov -

Dec -

Jan – complete tire grant application

Feb – submit tire grant application

Mar – Issue RFP s; design promotion materials

Apr – review bids and select vendors

May – volunteer meeting

June – bake the cookies and hold the event

2. SkyStream Wind Generator – it was learned this week that XZERES Company has purchased the

Sky Stream Line. A phone call and email was made to Therese Unholtz, Customer Service

Manager for XZERES, 9025 SW Hillman Ct #3126 Wilsonville, OR 97070

(877) 404-9438. Committee recommends the Township move to wait to hear back from XZERES

before a decision is made on the next step regarding repair/sale/other.

Meeting adjourned at 5:05pm

Submitted by Phil Mikus, committee chair.

February 12, 2013 Union Township Sustainability Committee Meeting

Union Township Sustainability Committee Meeting


Meeting called to order at 4:05pm 2/12/13



1. Sam Fiani recommended this committee invite a member of the CMU Student Government Association (SGA) Sustainability Committee to join the Union Township Sustainability Committee as a means to developing more recycling partnerships between the township and the University. Recommendation approved by voice vote of committee members present.

2. Sam reported on the January 17, 2013 Isabella County MRF Board meeting she attended.

     a. 556 petition signatures asking for more apartment recycling options were presented to the board

     b. MRF board asked for creative ideas on how to provide the service

3. This committee asked Woody to ask Rick McGuirk for creative recycling idea input when he meets Rick at the next Planning Commission meeting.

4. MRF board meeting schedule changed to quarterly; next meeting in April

5. Burning Ban Law

       a. The new Michigan outdoor burning law went into effect in Oct 2012.

       b. Does not restrict BBQ or cooking food outside

      c. Does ban burning trash, specifically plastic, rubber, foam, treated wood, electronics, chemicals and hazardous materials.

4. Committee recommended the Township post in the lobby informational brochures on the new law; Mike L. will research availability of brochures from the State of Michigan.

5. Community Garden

     a. Phil M. reported the harvest last season was successful; and that the deer repellant sprays worked once it was applied.

     b. Brian S. said staff will prepare a spray schedule and follow up after rain fall to re-apply.

     c. Laura C. stated that human hair cuttings also make good deer repellant.

     d. An invitation to participate in this coming season’s garden will be created and distributed, and posted on our website.

6. Other

Laura reported the Food Co-op will be hosting a plant & herb swap this June.



Meeting adjourned at 5pm

1/8/2013 MINUTES

Meeting called to order at 4:00 pm by Phil Mikus on 1/8/2013 at the Union Township Hall

1. Apartment Recycling
1. CMU Sustainability is circulating petitions to MRF to provide apartment recycling service
2. Encourage supporters to attend next MRF meeting
2. New Burning Laws
1. Bans burning volatile household items such as plastics, paint, treated lumber, etc
2. Enforcement at state level is low to non existent
3. Penalty- warning, $75 ticket, then $150 each violation
4. State DEQ has local model ordinance, Woodruff will download, evaluate and report back
5. Current enforcement for nuisance burning complaints utilizes MPFD
3. Other DEQ info
1. Environmental Mapper http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/environmentalmapper/
2. We may want to rescind our grass and leaf ordinance to comply with county landfill agreement
4. On 12/17/12 The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe scheduled a half-day working session with local partners to discuss the Tribe's 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan and get your input on appropriate Best Management Practices for the Chippewa River and tributaries.  Woodruff attended and will participate in future meetings.
5. Meeting adjourned at 4:43

Agenda for May 8, 2012

Hello Team - The next meeting of the Citizens Task Force on Sustainability will be Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 4pm in the township hall board room. Please send in a reply to all with any agenda items you have for the meeting.

One item I would like us to discuss is a proposal to establish an annual awards program, tentatively called the Union Township Environmental Leadership Award. The basis of selecting a recipient will be completion of the Green Self Assessment Check List we discussed at our April Meeting.

See the new Task Force web page at http://uniontownshipmi.com/BoardsandCommissions/CitizensTaskForceonSustainability.aspx

Hope to see you all next Tuesday.

All good things,
Phil Mikus
Chair, Citizens Task Force on Sustainability
Trustee,  Charter Township of Union

Minutes of Citizens Task Force on Sustainability, Tuesday April 10, 2012

Minutes of Citizens Task Force on Sustainability, Tuesday April 10, 2012 at 4pm in the Township Hall

Present: Mike Lyon, Sarvit Chardowery, Phil Mikus
Also Present: Brian Smith, Wm. “Woody” Woodruff, Samantha “Sam” Fiani


1. Community Garden Project – Brian reported fencing will be installed soon. Some discussion on future garden sites in years to come after this pilot project is fully evaluated.


2. Multi Family Recycling – Phil reported Billy’s, who hauls some apartment rubbish, sorts trash to pull out recyclables. A rep of Billy’s may be able to attend future meetings of the Board to answer questions.


3. Oberlin Project – tabled, Tom Rohrer was unable to attend the meeting. A planned green designed community. oberlinproject.org.


4. The Green Self Assessment Check List – discussion on completing the checklist for our facilities and encouraging other entities to review other facilities.

Green_Venues_Self-Assessment_Checklist_-_Fillable_Form_304171_7.pdf

Agenda for April 10, 2012

Sustainablity Committee meeting, Tuesday April 10, 2012 at 4pm in the Township Hall

1. Community Garden Project - update
2. Multi Family Recycling
3. Oberlin Project - Tom Rohrer
4. The Green Self Assessment Check List See http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/Green_Venues_Self-Assessment_Checklist_-_Fillable_Form_304171_7.pdf