03/27/2002 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2002 7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS A. Forestry Asleson stated that forestry was a separate section from environmental because they had separate budgets. Ms. Smith with the Trade -A -Tree program had submitted a news release to the Quad. In addition, Xcel Energy was already beginning to top the trees, but Ms. Smith had contacted Xcel Energy and stopped them until the program could contact the affected homeowners. Some of the extra trees could be used to spruce up the elementary school. The program was entirely volunteer. The oak wilt contracts budget had come in. They did not get the plow in the fall, so it would be done in the spring. B. Solid Waste Recycling Asleson distributed the final SCORE recycling report, which included the oil and filter recycling at the maintenance building. He indicated that the costs had increased, and the only funding came from tonnages, and not for the actual recycling costs. The goal was to break even, and to reduce the overhead to reduce the necessary SCORE funding. The issue of battery recycling was mentioned. Finally, staff stated that the County -wide tonnage requirements were exceeded. Asleson suggested a program called Trish and the Tunes which is a recycling program for children using puppets. He suggested that the program could be presented for one of the elementary schools. Donlin stated that if people did not have a place to put their waste it would go in the ditches. Asleson explained he believed that much of the waste in the ditches comes from outside the City. May 5 would be the next Recycling Day. On the last Recycling Day, the City and residents filled three 4 -yard dumpsters with steel. The electronics industry was beginning to offer recycling services. They would probably add to the cost of the products, and offer the recycling for free. Asleson stated he would be interested in bringing the recycling program Trish and the Tunes to Rice Lake Elementary because one of the teachers was environmentally aware, and even won the National Teacher of the Year. O'Connell indicated teachers who might not be environmentally conscious might benefit from having the program in their school. Donlin responded it depended on the teachers, since some use a program and springboard off of it, while others use the time for other pursuits and do not even hold a follow -up discussion about the presentation. She suggested Lino Lakes Elementary as a possibility. DRAFT MINUTES