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

Agenda 2/14/12, 4 PM

Agenda for February 14, 2012

With spring on the horizon there are a few topics that we would like input from the Sustainability Committee on:

1. Community Garden Project - update
2. Multi Family Recycling
3. Sidewalks on Bluegrass Road
4. Oberlin Project http://oberlinproject.org/ (http://chronicle.com/article/A-College-Town-Imagines-a-New/129650/ ) - Tom Rohrer

Phil Mikus, chair
Sustainability Committee

Charter Township of Union
Citizens Task Force on Sustainability
January 10, 2012

Agenda:
Greetings All,
At our last meeting in September, we decided to convert to a quarterly meeting schedule and retain the ability to meet at special times within the quarter if issues warrant convening the committee. With that said, our next scheduled meeting will be January 10, 2012 at [4 pm] in the township hall (weather permitting, of course!).

One topic I would like to discuss at that time is the establishment of a larger community garden space. The garden spots at the Jameson Park this past growing season was a good pilot project which demonstrated that there is interest for a community garden in our Township.

I recently became aware of a unique project conducted by the East Lansing Food Co-op that
could serve as a model for our community to replicate. The basis of the idea was to partner with a private property owner who owns an undeveloped lot next to a strip mall. The private owner also owns the strip mall. Rain water from the roof of the strip mall was captured in rain barrels for use on the garden plots. I will be working with Township staff and the Mt Pleasant Area Food Co-op in the next several months to see how we can move forward with implementing a similar plan in Union Township and will report to the committee in January (with e-mail updates as warranted).

All good things,

Phil Mikus
Sustainable Committee chair
Trustee

Meeting Minutes, 1/10/12
Present: Supervisor Barker, Mike Lyon, Sarvjit Chowdhary, Tom Rohrer, Woody Woodruff, Sara Christianson (Green Tree Co-op).
I. Community Garden
a. Last year included
i. poor tilth
ii. animal damage
iii. Rain Barrels were installed
b. Suggestions for coming year
i. Soil amendments (peat)
ii. Garden Tour of city and township plots
iii. Additional frost proof water spigot
iv. Fencing
v. Handicapped accessible garden
vi. Increase education and awareness
vii. Coordinated plot sign-up with City, Township and Green Tree and web based
c. Discussed Public Private Partnership such as East Lansing to provide plots near retail to utilize roof water and place the gardens in prominent locations to encourage use.

II. Environmental concerns with Fracking
a. New exploratory well on M 20 west of Lincoln Rd is for oil, not gas
b. State dept of wells has exclusive jurisdiction on permits
c. Suggested writing to Director Hal Fitch with concerns over this Fracking practice
d. Lyon informed us of the Environmental Mapper found on the State’s website (use Search feature form the DNR page at Michigan.gov)
e. The township is working on a Well Head Protection program at this time that will also help map the local aquifers

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF UNION, SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REPORT

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF UNION, SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REPORT
APRIL 8, 2011 7am
Members present: Mike Lyons, Savich Chowdhary, Phil Mikus, Also present: Brian Smith, Woody Woodruff, Brent Ebright, John Barker
• Received a report of the Multi Family Pilot Project progress, from Brent Ebright, Isabella County MRF Manager.
o An apartment complex on Deerfield Road may be the pilot location, with a projected start date of no later than September 1, 2011, Funds for the roll off containers from 2% money.
o Roll offs may also be used for ball field special events, such as tournaments
• Reviewed the status of the Brine Agreement with Isabella County Road Commission.
o Mikus reported Mi Chloride Sales does not use oil well brine for Isabella County, according to its owner. MCS uses brine from a mile deep well in east Gratiot County.
o Lyons asked why ICRC has a permit to apply oil well brine.
• Reviewed the Committee goals developed at the February meeting (posted below). Discussion on certain items followed:
o Re: item iii – refer to Parks and Recreation Committee
o Re: item v – the upcoming multi-family pilot will be a good subject for an Intern project.
o RE: item vi – recommendation is to refer that to a contractor when funding is available and approved by Board of Trustees
o Item added: implement at least one community garden this coming season
• Discussed the pros and cons of converting diesel fuel fleet vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Barker stated that this kind of thing could be a joint project with maybe the city, county, tribe and university.
• Adjourn @ 8:10pm
Committee Goals for 2011, as presented by committee members at Feb 8, 2011 meeting:
• Establish a speaker series or promote Great Lakes Sustainability Institute program
• Install a proper sign in front of the three wind generators at the township hall
• Create a recycling collection program for township sports fields
• Provide a “Sustainability Information Kiosk” in the lobby of the township hall
• Prepare a report on the impact the curbside recycling program is having on waste diversion
• Create and implement a written “sustainability plan” for all township facilities, include energy use, recycling collection for example.
• Discuss with County Recycling Manager the possible ways to add businesses and commercial sites on the recycling collection routes
“The mission of the Union Township Sustainability Committee shall be to provide recommendations and advice to the Union Township Board of Trustees on activities that will assure the environmental, fiscal and social sustainability of the Township.”
Charter Township of Union Sustainability Committee