Gurnee's environmental plans include green ideas committee

Lawnmowers running on propane instead of gasoline, hybrid vehicles and other so-called green initiatives might be in Gurnee's future.

Village board trustees and Mayor Kristina Kovarik agreed at an informal meeting Monday night there is little downside to seeking what are perceived as environmentally friendly ideas, and possibly saving money in the long run.

"I'll just say, green is cool," Trustee Greg Garner said.

Village Administrator James Hayner said converting lawnmowers in the municipal fleet from gas to propane power already is under consideration. Officials agreed cost reduction would be a factor in determining if such a move makes sense.

Other possibilities include the purchase of more hybrid vehicles or switching village-owned cars from gasoline to propane.

Kovarik said there are so many green choices requiring a cost-benefit analysis, it's unrealistic for village staff to comb through all of them. That's why she suggested creation of a volunteer committee for environmentally friendly ideas.

Trustee Hank Schwarz agreed to lead the committee, which is expected to include Gurnee residents.

"I'm no expert," Schwarz said. "I'll be learning."

Gurnee's assistant to the village administrator, Patrick Muetz, said some green projects are in place. One dates to 2001, when larger recycling bins were introduced to single-family homeowners.

Muetz said one effort involves utility division employees who look for fire hydrant leaks.

"If it's leaking into the ground," Muetz said of water traveling to hydrants, "obviously it's going to waste."

Meanwhile, trustees informally agreed Monday night to pursue a link with Sierra Club's Cool Cities program. Evanston, Chicago, Lake Forest, Schaumburg, Naperville and Elgin are among the listed Cool Cities in Illinois.

Towns that join are asked by the Sierra Club to commit to fight global warming by signing the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. Some cities have committed to increasing renewable energy use or replacing lights in traffic signals with ones that reportedly cut carbon emissions.

Gabriel Niederlander and Patrick Heneghan, students at Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake, pitched the Cool Cities concept to the Gurnee officials.

Kovarik praised the grade-school students for their presentation, and said adults should be good environmental stewards.