Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 5/17/2010

May 17^th, 2010

11:00 Student Life Conference Room

Faculty/Staff Members present:  Kevin Futhey, Kristi Heintz, Cliff Koski, Glenn Merrick, Deanne Roquet, Jeri Schwerin

Announcements

Cathy Carlson will be unable to continue as a full member of the Environmental Council and does not have a member of her staff with availability to serve on the committee.  The Council will invite Cathy to meetings that directly pertain to food service.

Cedar posts purchased last year by the EC and intended to be used on the interpretive trail this summer have been taken from behind the green house sometime between the last week in April and first week in May.  Glenn will send out an all employee email asking for information.

The greenhouse needs to be cleaned out by Monday May 24^th.

Old Business

Climate Action Plan-Kristi and Tom intend to begin work on the Climate Action Plan on May 26^th if the budget is settled and Kristi’s appointment has been extended by then.

Meeting with Dr. Johns-Deanne would like to complete a comprehensive EC report for both the out-going and in-coming LSC Presidents.  Deanne has requested a meeting with Dr. Johns.  A date has not been established.

Sustainability website- IE has been working with Steve Fudally to get the page up.  Kristi and Mat also met with Steve and have been working on the details of the webpage.  Kristi will continue to follow-up on the project.  Kristi is also working to develop an LSC sustainability email address to be used on the website and various publicity or information documents.

Worm composting bins-the worms were moved on May 7^th thanks to Deanne, Theresa, and members of Deanne Environmental Science class.  Kristi is working on a sign to be mounted above the bins on the staircase.

New Business 

Deanne has arranged an EC meeting with Dr. Nelson on June 21^st at the Olive Garden at noon.  We will have an EC meeting following lunch.

Kristi mentioned UMD’s recent bookstore event going “bagless”.  Kristi and Kevin will follow up with Connie to see if LSC could do something similar at least as a trial.

2011 EC Goals

1. The Climate Action Plan is due by January

2. Review the Storm Water Plan and implement immediate fixes using ideas from Keith’s work this summer.

3. Sustainable policies (purchasing, waste, food etc. ) need to be written.

4. Kristi spoke with Kate at MN Waste Wise and she would like to set up a meeting with us sometime in the near future.  Deanne feels Kate could help us with some of our 2011 Council goals.  Some items include:

– Write an RFP for more sustainably inclusive waste hauler service from Waste Management.  Gary Adams mentioned to Kristi that WM’s contract is up this year so now would be a great time to recommend changes to service.

-Deanne suggested several Council members attend a Waste Wise meeting in St. Paul next year to hear about efforts other businesses/schools are making in waste handling and management.

5. Annual Report

Budget Report

The exact amount of the EC’s remaining 2010 budget still has not been settled.  Mark is working with Wade to close out remaining POs and reimburse Diversity for funds covered through it for Earth Day t-shirts and UMACS registration fees.

The MN Waste Wise membership dues are due in June.  Kristi called Kate to arrange to get the dues payable in July so they would fall on a billing cycle that runs concurrent with our fiscal year.  The 2011 dues will be due July 1^st.

Motions

No motions were made at this meeting.

Next meeting

Monday June 21^st after lunch with Dr. Nelson.

Submitted by Kristi Heintz