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

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, LIKE our Facebook page, and subscribe to our podcast using one of the many RSS Readers on our Buzzsprout platform. 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 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 "sustainability" beyond just one issue like single use bags.