Looking Ahead in Wayne

 

Next City Council Meeting

July 7th at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at 306 Pearl Street.

 

Mayor Shelton is organizing a Green Team in the Wayne Community.  The creation of a Green Team is to take advantage of new technologies and new funding sources to help us reduce future energy costs and move toward a sustainable operation of the community that conserves all community resources for long term use while maintaining our life style. The Green Team members will be appointed by the mayor and approved by council.  If you would like to participate in this group call Chanelle in the city office at 375-1733.

 

A pre-organizational meeting was held last evening that discussed these Community Opportunities:

 

1)  Storm water management plan

    - cost reduction for new streets by using small rain gardens, groundwater infiltration

areas and open grass filter water strips instead of large underground concrete

pipes that add more water to the current storm drain system

    - signage/stencils for storm drains noting they drain directly to Logan Creek

    - rain gardens

    - green roofs

    - rain barrels, cisterns and storm water storage

 

2) LEED building certification

    - contractor education/certification opportunities

    - public education about new materials and practices

    - building codes

    - landscape education/certification

 

3) Transitioning from high maintenance bluegrass to native plants on public properties

 

4) Recycling

    - high school community service projects for recycling?

    - trash cans and recycling down town?

    - public education

    - Logan Creek clean-up of debris

    - WSC recycling opportunities

    - WSC Service Learning help available

    - recycling management and storage for public events and gatherings

 

5) WSC students/faculty available to get involved if a community service structure is in place

 

6) Urban Forest

    - future of Wayne's mature trees

    - a northern plains city with only grass and no trees?

    - Wayne Tree Board?

    - plan to replace some of the loss of ash, scotch pine and silver maples that are dying

    - need for shade as part of electric peak load control

    - what to do about distaste of raking leaves

 

7) Public Education about sustainability

    - Green Team Facebook page

    -  school water, tree and garden projects

    - community garden plots

    - website, cable channel, group presentations, utility letter, radio show,

demonstrations and fairs

    - photos of environmental issues and projects posted

 

8) Apply for new Green Funding Sources available

 

9) Time of Use Metering for Wayne electric utility customers

 

10) Composting

 

Questions or comments?  Call Lowell Johnson, City Administrator at 375-1733 or email me at cityadmin@cityofwayne.org.