[Post author: Wayne Duke]
Brownstown residents will soon see more environmentally-friendly town operations as the town becomes one of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM’s) newest “CLEAN” communities.
IDEM Assistant Commissioner Rick Bossingham presented a plaque and commemorative road sign to Town Board President Leroy Warren to officially induct Brownstown into the CLEAN program on Monday, Oct. 5, at Brownstown Town Council Chambers.
The CLEAN (Comprehensive Local Environmental Action Network) Community Challenge is a voluntary recognition program for local Indiana government entities that make significant commitments to environmental management.
CLEAN helps communities take steps to plan, develop, and implement a Quality of Life Plan, which focuses on reducing the potential environmental impacts associated with their municipal operations.
“Brownstown’s commitment to environmental stewardship is a shining example for other communities to follow,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “I applaud the entire community for its good work in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.”
Brownstown has committed to achieving several environmental goals, including developing standard operating procedures for spill response and training appropriate staff in the use of the procedures by the summer of 2012. Other goals include increasing recycling in town facilities and at town festivals (including the Spring Car Show, Melon Fest, and Hometown Christmas) by 20 percent by August 2012; recycling 100 percent of fluorescent bulbs and rechargeable batteries generated from municipal operations by January 2012, and addressing winter road maintenance by completing a study to determine the feasibility of using a liquid de-icer to reduce sand usage by January 2012.
Leroy Warren, President of the Brownstown Town Board, is pleased with the actions taken by the town to improve their environmental footprint. “We are proud of Brownstown’s initiative in promoting recycling and taking care of the environment. It was a team effort of town employees and all the residents that helped Brownstown become part of the CLEAN Community Challenge,” he said.
The Indiana CLEAN Community Challenge is administered by IDEM in partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Finance Authority. Partner agencies provide financial incentives to Indiana CLEAN Community members, such as better terms and improved opportunities for state grant and loan dollars. Brownstown joins nine other communities participating in the CLEAN program: the cities of Crown Point, Indianapolis, La Porte, Lawrence, Michigan City, Richmond, Tell City, Valparaiso and the town of Fishers.