10-09-07 Minutes
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
October 9, 2007
Members Present:
Ron Olsen, Dennis Hansen, Jim Sommers, Lee Scholder, Rose Kircher, Bill Fouks
Members Absent:
Shirley McGee
Staff Present:
Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist, Kate Aanenson, Community
Development Director
Guests:
Marcus Zbinden, Carver County Environmental Services
Minutes:
No minutes were approved.
Tour of Carver County Organics Site at MN Arboretum:
Marcus took the Environmental
Commission on a tour of the organics composting site at the Arboretum. He explained that loads from the
residential routes come into the site on Wednesdays and Fridays. The organics are mixed with yard waste
and wood chips stored on site the same day it arrives or the next morning. The mix is piled and marked
with a stake showing the day the pile was made. The pile temperature is taken daily and marked on the
stake. Once the pile has reached a specific temperature for a certain number of days it’s transferred to
another pile and mixed again. The whole process from truck to soil takes about a month. Collection
tubes have been installed under the piles to test for groundwater contamination and run off pollution. The
water collected is tested by the state and the levels of any contaminants have been well below any level of
concern. The commission was impressed with the site and program.
The meeting then continued at the Chanhassen Rec Center.
Nominations for the EE Award:
Jill presented an application received from John and Elaine
Malakowsky. The commission reviewed it and also discussed other potential nominees. The ideas
included: Eckankar for their prairies and woods, Bill will contact Chaska HS to see if any Chan students
could be nominated, Ron will contact Bokoo bikes to find out about any commuters, Jill will see if Lotus
is recycling plastic pots. Final approval of nominees will take place at the November meeting.
General Discussion:
- The commission may tour the Environmental Center for their next meeting. If so, the meeting
date and time will need to change to Wednesday at 6 pm.
- In a brief discussion about a water conservation education program, water saving shower heads
distributed by Centerpointe or MVEC were brought up. Jim will look into the details.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 PM.
Minutes Prepared by Jill Sinclair