The Comeback

The Comeback

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1934823/open_sms] We're back, with new changes to the podcast. We talk about upcoming events where you can get involved, Kendra gets hyperbolic about a law that was passed in January, and Tia takes a deep dive into the plastic bag discussion, which finally made its way back to the council. We're back and excited to dig into all things Elgin.  Correction: Kendra meant to say that "15 through the rest" are the addresses on the other side of her building.

Waste Wars: Touring Lakeshore Recycling Service's (LRS) Materials Recovery Facility

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1934823/open_sms] As 2024 turns to 2025 in the next few days, the city of Elgin prepares to change waste haulers, moving on from a 20+ year contract with Waste Management (WM) to a new contract with Lakeshore Recycling Services (LRS). This is the final episode of The Elgin Watchman's Season Three special series on Waste. We've been calling this series WASTE WARS.   In this episode, Tia and Kendra talk about the tour that LRS generously took them on of the company's MRF (aka Materials Recovery Facility, which is kind of like a recycling facility). If you are interested in learning more about Elgin's new waste hauling company, you will want to tune into this episode. It is an awesome behind the scenes look at a company who cares about the environment and someone with whom Elgin residents are about to enter into a multi-year relationship. This is a must listen to episode for anyone who cares about waste and recycling. To access LRS' Elgin Resident online portal, CLICK HERE [https://nice-water-064044e10.5.azurestaticapps.net/]. For more information on so many sustainability related issues, please visit our website [https://www.elginwatchman.com/], LIKE our Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/TheElginWatchman], and subscribe to our podcast using one of the many RSS Readers on our Buzzsprout [https://elginwatchman.buzzsprout.com/]podcast platform.

Elgin Sustainability Commission December 2024 Meeting: Haikus, Trees, and Climate

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1934823/open_sms] The Elgin Sustainability Commission met on Tuesday, December 10th at the Edward Schock Centre in downtown Elgin. The following issues were discussed by commissioners on December 10th and cheerfully shared with you by Erik & Tia after the fact:  * Tia did not attend the ESC meeting, so she hosted this episode * Not enough commissioners thought attending the December meeting was important, so the meeting lacked a quorum and the "people's business" could not be done. In other words, there was just a lot of talking (which is kinda par for the course with this group) * The mayor's wife showed up as a concerned citizen to offer comments about the proposed removal of the Kimball Street Dam and weigh-in on the commission's city council recommendation about single use bag fees (or possibly a ban) * Elgin Parks Superintendent Greg Hulke spoke for a long time about the city's parkway tree planting program * Commissioners chatted about the city's Climate Action Planning process * The lack of advanced event planning for the 2025 Elgin Earth Summit was discussed and there may be two volunteers willing to engage on this question sometime after the holidays In the "deep-dive" segment of this episode, Erik & Tia unpack some of what is happening with the consultant facilitated Climate Action Planning process. They spent some time talking about the assessment phase. Specifically, the consultants are asking the community to engage in a mapping tool exercise.  * Here is a link to an overview of the process:  https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8f125e0f2d3745aaba550fb92e3da76e [https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8f125e0f2d3745aaba550fb92e3da76e] * Here is a link to the City of Elgin’s Interactive Climate Action Map where YOU and YOUR NEIGHBORS are encouraged to provide pre-planning feedback:  https://elgincap.mysocialpinpoint.com/ [https://elgincap.mysocialpinpoint.com/] For more information on so many sustainability related issues, please visit our website [https://www.elginwatchman.com/], LIKE our Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/TheElginWatchman], and subscribe to our podcast using one of the many RSS Readers on our Buzzsprout platform [https://elginwatchman.buzzsprout.com/]. Look for The Elgin Watchman wherever you listen to podcasts.

Special Edition: City Manager Denies Support of Single Use Bag Fee and Bag Ban

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1934823/open_sms] In our last episode [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1934823/episodes/16145285], Tia & Erik covered the November 12th Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting and unpacked the commission's discussion about their Single Use Bag Fee ordinance proposal to the city council (which happened almost two years ago). They also reported on what commissioners were saying, which was they were hearing the city manager's office was warming to the idea of a single use bag ban instead of the commission's recommended bag fee.   Tia & Erik also shared feedback they had received from an unscientific online survey they distributed via social media on this issue.   With all that being said, this SPECIAL EDITION episode focuses on the city manager's office's response to The Elgin Watchman's online survey and previous podcast episode. Tia & Erik specifically talk about a leaked email letter from the city's Director of Communications & Engagement on behalf of the city manager to senior staff and city council members. In that leaked letter, the city manager tries to address "inaccuracies" in The Elgin Watchman's coverage.     In this SPECIAL EDITION podcast episode, Tia & Erik try to address "inaccuracies" and "misrepresentations" in city hall's leaked email letter. ***NOTE 1*** Despite city hall's denials, The Elgin Watchman stands by its coverage and reporting on this issue because it was what was discussed at an open public meeting. The Nov. 12th meeting was attended by city council appointed members of the Sustainability Commission with a former city staff member chairing the meeting, a current city staff member in the room whose job is to advise and support the commission, and an elected member of the city council. ***NOTE 2*** It is important to note that no one shut down discussion about the City Manager's Office alleged support of a single use bag ban . . . nor did anyone question it. Everyone at the Nov. 12th commission meeting accepted it as fact, which is why The Watchman report on it and stands by its coverage of this open meeting. ***NOTE 3*** A leaked copy of Jeff Knox's email to senior staff and city council members is posted on The Elgin Watchman's website in the Blog Section with our critique and responses. (Please note . . . the Blog Section is behind a $0.00 pay wall that you simply need to set-up your login credentials to access)  CLICK HERE [https://www.elginwatchman.com/blog/citymanager] to read that email with paragraph by paragraph commentary by The Watchman. ***NOTE 4*** Finally, it is also interesting for our loyal listening audience to note that city hall has not reached out to The Elgin Watchman to deny any of this coverage. ***INVITATION TO CITY MANAGER*** We extend an invitation to City Manager Rick Kozal to sit for an interview, straighten out the record, and clearly explain his Office's position on single use bags, their impact on the city's waste hauler, the effect they have on local landfills, and city hall's point of view on the bigger picture of "sustainability" beyond just one issue like single use bags.   For more information on so many sustainability related issues, please visit our website [https://www.elginwatchman.com/], LIKE our Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/TheElginWatchman], and subscribe to our podcast using one of the many RSS Readers on our Buzzsprout platform [https://elginwatchman.buzzsprout.com/]. Look for The Elgin Watchman wherever you listen to podcasts.

Elgin Sustainability Commission November 2024 Meeting: Bag Fee versus Bag Ban

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1934823/open_sms] The Elgin Sustainability Commission met on Tuesday, November 12th at the Edward Schock Centre in downtown Elgin. The following issues were discussed by commissioners on November 12th and cheerfully shared with you by Erik & Tia after the fact:  * Climate Action Planning process * Carpentersville Fox River dam removal * Status of t-shirt purchase for commissioners * Commission's recommendation to Elgin City Council to remove the Kimball Street dam * Proposed Single Use Bag Fee ordinance * Guest speaker from School District U-46 and former sustainability commissioner Deb McMullen talking about science standards Tia & Erik dedicated this episodes "deep dive" segment to talking about a strange development regarding the proposed Single Use Bag Fee ordinance. Commissioners disclosed an alleged shift inside the Elgin City Manager's office where city staff, who allegedly opposed to the proposed bag fee, are now discussing the possibility/feasibility of a bag ban ordinance.   The Elgin Watchman launched an unscientific opinion poll after the meeting, asking local Elgin residents whether they favored a bag fee or a bag ban and why. Erik & Tia shared those responses and discuss some of wisdom behind some of the feedback.   This episode is a long one . . . so buckle-up . . . because you won't want to miss some of these twists and turns. For more information on so many sustainability related issues, please visit our website [https://www.elginwatchman.com/], LIKE our Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/TheElginWatchman], and subscribe to our podcast using one of the many RSS Readers on our Buzzsprout platform [https://elginwatchman.buzzsprout.com/]. Look for The Elgin Watchman wherever you listen to podcasts.   ***UPDATE*** After recording this podcast episode, The Elgin Watchman was informed that the city's new Director of Communications and Engagement, Jeff Knox, sent an email to senior city hall leadership and members of the city council denying that "the City Manager's Office is in support of a single-use grocery bag ban." Despite city hall's denials, The Elgin Watchman stands by its coverage and reporting because this was what was discussed at an open public meeting by city council appointed members of the Sustainability Commission with a former city staff member chairing the meeting, a current city staff member in the room whose job is to advise and support the commission, and an elected member of the city council.   It is important to note that no one shut down discussion about the City Manager's Office alleged support of a single use bag ban . . . nor did anyone question it. Everyone in that room accepted it as fact, which is why we are report on it and stand by our coverage of this open meeting. A leaked copy of Jeff Knox's email to senior staff and city council members is posted on The Elgin Watchman's website in the Blog Section with our critique and responses. (Please note . . . the Blog Section is behind a $0.00 pay wall that you simply need to set-up your login credentials to access)  CLICK HERE [https://www.elginwatchman.com/blog/citymanager] to read that email with paragraph by paragraph commentary by The Watchman.   Finally, it is also interesting for our loyal listening audience to note that city hall has not reached out to The Elgin Watchman to deny any of this coverage.    We extend an invitation to City Manager Rick Kozal to sit for an interview, straighten out the record, and clearly explain his Office's position on single use bags, their impact on the city's waste hauler, the effect they have on local landfills, and city hall's point of view on the bigger picture of "s