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The City of Elgin recently released its Annual Water Quality Report for the period of time between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021.

When it comes to lead in Elgin's drinking water, here's some of the facts:

• Approximately 100-ish Elgin homes with lead service pipes got tested
• There is no safe level of lead that humans should be ingesting, which is why it is the EPA's stated goal to have ZERO parts per billion (ppb) of lead in drinking water.
• However, the EPA recognizes the reality of many communities situations, which is why it sets 15 ppb as an "action level" for communities
• Of the 100-ish homes tested, 22 exceeded these EPA established "action levels" with 22.5 ppb or higher
• However, the Water Quality Report states that Elgin is not in violation of the EPA's lead standard
• The report also states the likely source of lead found in the homes that were tested was from: 1) erosion of natural deposits and 2) corrosion of household plumbing

All of this got Tia & Erik talking about the "effects of lead" on humans (and especially children). So, they asked pediatric nurse Shannon Flint, who is a pediatric nurse, to speak with them about this topic.

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The June 2022 Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting was the shortest and best managed by Commission Chair Tom Armstrong so far in 2022. The agenda was short, and Tia picked three of the main topics to summarize: 

• Open Meetings Act as it pertains to rejuvenating the commission's workgroups
• Elgin's Tree Planting Program
• Green House Gas Inventory

However, Erik & Tia spend the vast amount of time in this podcast discussing what DIDN'T make it onto the commission's June agenda -- the proposed Single-Use Plastic Bag Fee draft ordinance.

Sustainability Commissioner Jeff Biss graciously agreed to an interview and answered questions about what happened and where he thinks the draft ordinance initiative is going. 

Tia dug up some old emails between her and city staff and another one between her and a city councilperson back when she served on the commission as its chairperson. Believe it or not, the Single-Use Plastic Bag Fee ordinance idea has been kicking around for MANY, MANY years. 

Perhaps, we all need to start wondering what's the hang up? Or who is standing in its way? And as you can imagine, Tia & Erik starting exploring some of these questions in this podcast episode. You can file it under, "Things that make you go -- Hmmmmmm?"  

• Subscribe using your RSS feed by visiting our podcast platform at https://elginwatchman.buzzsprout.com/
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• Visit our webpage at https://www.elginwatchman.com/

We encourage you to get involved, attend meetings, ask questions, and ALWAYS "Keep Watch!"

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Erik and Tia continue exploring the issue of lead in Elgin's drinking water after the city mailed residents notification a few months ago about elevated levels.  In this episode, Tia interviews the City of Elgin's former Interim Public Services Director, Kyla Jacobsen, who retired in 2017. 

Jacobsen offers an interesting, unique, and educated perspective on this topic. Her answers provide historical context and good information about what's being done to address this sustainability issue.

Visit our website and Facebook page to access additional information discussed during this episode:

• https://www.elginwatchman.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/TheElginWatchman/

If your home has a lead service water line, please contact us at [email protected] because we would love to interview you.

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The May 2022 Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting was the best one so far in 2022 with many different governance motions put on the table and even more topics for discussion. 

• Single Use Plastic Bag Fee
• Waste Management Recycling Pilot Project
• Native Plants/East Side Community Garden
• No Mow May
• Solar, Solare, & More Solar
• And so much more!

Honestly, this meeting can only be summed by with the phrase:
"Uh-Oh! Spaghetti O's!"

Yep, this was a thing. An actual thing that was mentioned many times at the May meeting. 

Admit it. You're curious now. There is only one thing left to do if you want to scratch that itch . . . click-n-listen!

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A few weeks ago, the City of Elgin mailed a brochure in accordance with the EPA's Lead & Copper Rule to some Elgin residents because elevated lead levels were found in a handful of homes. Unfortunately, Tia was one of the residents who received this city's mailing, and it has her freaked out.

Tia & Erik talk about lead in drinking water, and dial-in former Elgin Township Supervisor Franklin Ramirez in an effort to: 1) better understand municipal water systems; 2) sort out who owns what pipes; and 3) what are homeowners on the hook for when it comes to lead service lines.

In the final analysis, there are so many lingering questions, it is starting to look like LEAD IN ELGIN'S DRINKING WATER may become the first in-depth series for The Elgin Watchman podcast that airs during the second half of each month. (Note: Of course the first podcast of every month follows the adventures of the Elgin Sustainability Commission.)

CLICK HERE for more information about lead in drinking water at The Elgin Watchman website. 

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Tia attends another LONG Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting in April and summarizes it perfectly. She and Erik then spend the rest of their time talking about the soon-to-be-proposed "Single-Use Plastic Bag Fee" in Elgin, Illinois  . . . Coming soon to a city council meeting soon (if city staff let it see the light of day) . . . and a little something-something about microplastics. 

PS -- Sorry for the delayed drop of this month's Elgin Sustainability Commission podcast coverage. Let's just say, The Watchman had a run-in with COVID and it wasn't pretty. To Infinity & Beyond . . . Welcome to the New Normal!

PPS -- There are three additional post-podcast audio drops on the website of Tia & Erik doing deeper dives on microplastics, sustainability project ideas for the Sustainability Commission if they get money from the proposed plastic bag tax . . . er . . . I mean bag FEE, and anticipating Trumpist arguments against this impending proposed fee.

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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's public health emergency will expire soon and so will special provisions allowing elected and appointed officials to meet virtually. Needless to say, there is confusion about what this means for the City of Elgin's advisory boards (e.g. Sustainability Commission, Human Relations Commission, etc) and their respective initiatives.

In this episode Tia & Erik sit down with former Elgin Township Supervisor, Franklin Ramirez, to unpack and explore this issue and what it may mean for "good government, transparency, and diversity/equity/inclusion."

CALL TO ACTION:

• Educate yourself on how the Open Meetings Act may impact important issues in front of the Elgin Sustainability Commission, Human Relations Commission, and the city council. You can find materials on our website and Facebook page.
• Advocate for whatever solutions you feel strongly about by sitting down (or you can call or email if that makes you more comfortable) with the mayor, city council members, and your state representative and state senator.
• Get involved and "keep watch" by attending council and commission meetings (or watching recordings after the fact).
• And a renewed request from the last podcast . . . Please take 3-minutes to complete this SurveyMonkey questionnaire and participate in the content development process for the second podcast of each month in 2022. Here is that link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ElginWatchmanTopics

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Erik attended the Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting on March 8th. He efficiently reviews the long list of topics touched upon during that meeting. (albeit, not as efficiently as Tia did in the previous episode for the February meeting)

• Single-Use Bag Fee Review  
• Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region & Elgin Sustainability Action Plan  
• Commissioner Survey  
• Native Demo Gardens & Eastside Neighborhood Gardens  
• Earth Month  
• Community Solar 
• City tree program 

After an exciting "lightening round" of commission topics, Erik and Tia tackle the issue of the Elgin Sustainability Commission's citizen engagement strategy of using workgroups.

Previously ardent advocates of workgroups, you may be surprised at where Erik and Tia come down on this issue and why. 
 
CALL TO ACTION: Please take 3-minutes to complete this SurveyMonkey questionnaire and participate in the content development process for the second podcast of each month in 2022. Here is that link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ElginWatchmanTopics

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Tia attended the Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting on February 15th. She efficiently reviews the long list of topics touched upon during that meeting. 

• Climate Crisis Plan
• Elgin Earth Month
• Plastic Bag Tax
• Elgin's Tree Bank Planting program
• Elgin Township's funding request for a native plants project
• Local business' grant request to promote eco-friendly, zero waste health. beauty & household products
• Community Solar

After an exciting "lightening round" of commission topics, Erik and Tia tackle the 182-page documents and presentation by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus' Edith Makra. They discuss many of the climate crisis strategies and how the commission, city council, and individual Fox Valley residents can (and should) start implementing those ideas.

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Erik attended Waste Management's (aka WM) virtual Sustainability Forum  on February 9th. He shares a few of his big picture takeaways with Tia in this episode around collaboration, accountability, and how it relates backs to our community.