HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2013_10_04Sustainability Council
October 4, 2013
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 4, 2013 at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Norma Nusz
Chandler, Brooke Sydow, Paul Peterson, Donna Hess, Bob McGrath and Jane Hegland. Absent:
Ben Kleinjan, Arika Sanders, Ryan Carda, Betty Beer and Alvaro Garcia. Others present
included: Steve Meyer and Paul Melby from Brookings Municipal Utilities, Meghan Thoreau,
Shari Thornes and Laurie Carruthers.
Nusz Chandler called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. A motion was made by McGrath,
seconded by Peterson to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried. A motion
was made by McGrath, seconded by Sydow, to approve the September 6, 2013 minutes. All
present voted yes; motion carried.
Meeting Schedule. Next meeting will be Friday, November 22, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Wastewater treatment plant construction update. Steve Meyer, General Manager and Paul
Melby, Operations Manager from Brookings Municipal Utilities presented on the wastewater
treatment plant operations and construction update. The original plant was built in 1978.
Since then Brookings has grown and the plant is reaching its capacity and requires a renovation.
The renovations will upgrade the plant by 30 percent from a 3 million gallon/day to 4.25 million
gallon/day. The $34 million project includes improvements to the collection system under 6th
Street. Meyer explained the wastewater treatment process. Residents are billed for the water
that enters their home at the same rate for wastewater, under the assumption that what goes
in must come out. Ten businesses in town have a treatment process system before their
wastewater is discharged into to the treatment facility. Hess questioned the recent fad of
disposable wipes and their effect on the system. Meyer advised that many of the wipes do clog
the system and catch on the pipes. Meyer also described a new way to replace the clay tiles
with a fiber lined ‘sock’ that is installed with robots. So far a very minimal section of the 50
miles of clay tile has been replaced utilizing this method. One surprisingly common item that
greatly affects the wastewater treatment system is milk. The microorganisms in milk disrupt
the balance of the system. Melby advised that the plant does not generate enough gas to run a
generator.
Earth Day 2014. Thornes expanded on the workshops with Bob Yapp focusing on window
restoration and energy efficiency. He would be conducting window workshops over 3 or 4
days. The date has not been set, but it could be in conjunction with Earth Day/GreenFest. The
Historic Preservation Commission will be covering the consulting fees. The Sustainability
Council would be responsible for cross promotion and staffing the event.
Plain Green Conference. Hegland advised that Plain Green attendance increased by 50 from
last year. Next year, it will be on September 12, 2014 in Sioux Falls. As for the Plain Green
Speaker Series, Dan Rockwell will be in January; Cori Burback from Dubuque will be on March
20 at the Dakota Nature Center and April has not been finalized.
Indicator Project. Nusz Chandler advised the indicator project is proceeding. Some areas are
difficult to obtain substantive material. They are currently refining each page with help from
Beer. Sydow’s 2014 spring semester class will finalize the document.
Public Education Campaign. Carruthers displayed some of the photos taken for the campaign.
Factual information is being verified for the posters.
Urban Chicken Coops. Carruthers advised that the Urban Chicken Coops will be discussed at
the November 19 City Council Study Session at 5:00 p.m. Members representing the
Sustainability Council at the meeting will be Nusz Chandler, McGrath, Garcia and Kleinjan.
Announcements Correspondence/Communications/Calendar
• December 5th – Mayor’s Holiday Party from 5-7pm at the McCrory Gardens Visitor Center
• Membership: Members’ terms were staggered with one, two and three terms when the
Council was created on September 15, 2011. Terms for Beer, Hess and Sanders expire on
12/31/13. All are eligible for a full three year term.
Draft October Agenda: Earth Day 2014, electric car charging station sub-committee, bike
rental proposal, Indicator Project update, public education initiative, and year-to-date
financials.
Meeting adjourned at 10:14 a.m.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers