Elgin Sustainability Commission Aug 2022 Meeting: Plastic Bag Fee Vote, Climate Emergency, And More

The August 2022 Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting was the longest one of the year -- and perhaps the longest ever in the commission's 10-year history -- clocking in at three-and-one-half to four hours in length. Needless to say, commission chairperson Tom Armstrong is back in Tia's doghouse.

Members of the Elgin Area Climate Change Now, Elgin City of Peace, and Elgin Green Groups 350 were present. Passionate citizens pushed the commission to stop talking about taking action and instead start taking action. Our friend, Robin Migalla (aka the Dutchess of Dumpsters), yelled at commissioners. 

Bottom line?

• The Elgin Sustainability Commission voted to recommend the Elgin City Council examine the proposed Single-Use Plastic Bag Fee ordinance it has been working on for four years and consider implementation
• The Elgin Sustainability Commission got a black eye from residents in the audience for their lack of acting urgently in the wake of the city council passing its Climate Emergency Declaration in 2020
• The Elgin Sustainability Commission is talking about a lot of issues and workgroups appear to be awakening from their very long slumber. There is massive opportunity for Elgin residents who want to get involved, and those who are interested should call city of Elgin Sustainability Analyst Mikala Larson at 847-931-5615

We hope you enjoyed this month's Elgin Sustainability Commission coverage. It was the culmination of many previous podcasts (including four special edition podcasts released in the four days leading up to the August commission meeting).

Please stay tuned because the next podcast drop at the end of this month will feature a second half of the telephone interview with Eric Weiss, who is the City of Elgin's Water Director. He will help educate all of us about the city's Lead Service line Replacement program.

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