The City of Washington officially took a challenge on Friday — one Mayor Larry Haag says will save the city money and be positive for the local environment.
Tom Easterly, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, presented the mayor and several city employees a plaque and road sign, as they all took part in a press conference in the Council Chambers where Washington was named Indiana’s newest “CLEAN” community or (Comprehensive Local Environmental Action Network).
As part of the CLEAN challenge, Washington has committed to achieving several environmental goals over the next three years. By December 2010, the city is committed to reduce electricity usuage by 10 percent; by September 2012, the city has committed to completing a feasibility study to reduce the amount of winter road chemicals used, increase public usage of mulch and compost by 20 percent, reduce fuel consumption by 30 percent and increase the amounts of recyclables collected by 20 percent.
“We’ve set the benchmark high, but I’m confident with the team (city employees) and citizenry we have, we will meet these goals,” Haag said.
Washington joins 11 other cities in Indiana who have taken the CLEAN challenge, including Crown Point, LaPorte, Indianapolis, Lawrence, Michigan City, Portage, Richmond, Tell City, Valparaiso, Brownstown and Fishers.
“This is all about kids and growing for the future. We have to maintain our costs and offer a good quality of life,” the mayor said.
Haag said the city will have a kick-off for the CLEAN effort, along with public meetings and education for the public. He also plans to work more closely with local schools and civic organizations to achieve the goal.
