Environmental Improvement Commission

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WHEATON CITY HALL, 303 W WESLEY STREET, WHEATON, ILLINOIS 60187 Tuesday, February 25, 2025 7:30 I. Call to Order: Chairman Ted Witte called the meeting to order at 7:30. Present were Jim Boak, Cathy Coleman, Brian Malone, Kay McKeen, Tony Pope, Jim Wozniak, and Bob Young. Absent were Nancy Flynn, David Popham, Stephen Siemer, Allison Torrence, and Seema Wadia. II. Approval of Minutes: Bob moved that the minutes from the January meeting be approved. Tony seconded. The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote. Ill. Budget Report: Bob reported that there were no new invoices, so expenditures to date equal $1424, leaving $34,326 open to spend. IV. Public Comment: Wheaton residents Elaine McCluskey and Fred Weyland invited commission members to attend a Watch Party at Gary Memorial Methodist Church on April 25 at 6:30pm for the One Earth Film Festival. They will be showing part of "SO States of Sustainability" focusing on clean power and sustainable agriculture plus a short chosen from student entries. They hope to have tables for information from environmental groups before the film and a panel discussion after. V. Reports: 1. Electronics Recycling (February 8 ): Tony reported that he, Dave Popham, and Brian Malone represented EiC, along with volunteers, Jim Truesdale, Thuy, Jim and Logan from SCARCE, and seven workers from EWorks. Traffic was mostly steady with some backup. Lots of electronics, a high volume of textiles and scrap metal were collected. 200 + fluorescent bulbs, 20+ gallons of cooking oil. Another 20 gallons of cooking oil that solidified and won't be recycled until warmer weather was dropped off. VI. Upcoming Projects: 1. Electronics Recycling (March 8 ): Bob, Tony, and Brian will work the event. VII. Unfinished Business: 1. Recycling Extravaganza: (April 12, 2025): Kay reported that the vendor for propane tanks is confirmed. She is trying to set up a meeting at the Fairgrounds to discuss location options. Brian will try to get a map ready before the meeting. Bob will find out the lead time needed for signs for the various items. 2. Arbor Day (April 25, 2025): Whittier School 9:30 A.M. 3. Native Plant Sale (April 26, 2025): Tony reported that Annette has 39 volunteers, 20 for Friday set up and 19 for Saturday. 4. Prairie Path Cleanup (April 26, 2025)  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION MEEI'ING MINUTES February 25, 2025 5. Parkway maintenance and landscape ordinance: Jim Wozniak reported that he talked to Jason, head of forestry, about notification of residents and tree trimming. He also researched tree ordinances in other communities. 6. Potawatomi Village Historic Site: This is in the fundraising stage to restore the McKee House at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve to be used as a Native American center with artifacts and a library. Their website is https://www.fundthecenter.org VIII. New Business: 1. Funding for EIC Events: oKay moved that we allocate $300 for signs for the Recycling Extravaganza. Tony seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. OBob moved that we allocate $100 for three books to be donated to the Whittier School Library for Arbor Day. Cathy seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 2. Recycling ideas to investigate: oMany things are now delivered on pallets. Is it feasible for the monthly recycling event to accept pallets? Would EWorks be able to use them? Could we locate a company who would collect them and perhaps pay for them. Jim Boak will research companies. oFood Scrap Composting is not available at apartments and condos. Could a toter be located at the French Market or monthly recycling event where people could drop these off to be collected? oGlass is no longer collected in restaurant recycling. Could it be collected at monthly recycling and picked up in bulk by haulers. IX. Adjournment: Cathy moved that the meeting be adjourned. Kay seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30. The next regular EIC meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2025, at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Coleman