Elgin mulling energy-saving ideas

Tumbling gas prices aren't keeping community organizers from discussing energy-saving ideas - or the future of Elgin for that matter.

Nearly 100 people on average are attending community town halls held each month at Elgin's Gail Borden Public Library to learn more about issues which may impact the type of housing, transportation and jobs may become available in Elgin within the next 30 years.

The presentations, which have included PBS-style movie documentaries and visits from NICOR, ComEd and city of Elgin officials, are hosted by the Elgin Community Network. The nonprofit group has provided the forums as a way to engage residents in thought and discussion as the city embarks on a multimillion dollar sustainability plan.

"We are getting quite a following of people at our forums," said Bill Werst, a network board member who helps plan the programs. "People are watching what we're doing. People know us and know what to expect from our presentations."

Called "Elgin Alive!," the monthly series focus on ways the average resident can use common-sense techniques to protect the environment while sparing their pocket book, explained Werst. Topics have ranged from planting low-maintenance flower gardens to adapting and reusing the city's older housing stock through the city's Multi-Family Deconversion, Substitute Siding and historic architectural grants ranging from $4,000 to potentially tens of thousands of dollars. The network has showed the NOVA's "Car of the Future" and "The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream."

Residents typically leave each forum with several free goodies, including compact florescent light bulbs. Several lucky attendees also walked away with special tools to compact leaves, rain barrels and compost bins through special drawings, added Werst.

In addition to the seminars, the network is also helping facilitate community input meetings on Elgin's still-developing sustainability plan for 2009, said David Kaptain, the group's executive director and an Elgin city council member. The city council is in the process of hiring a consultant, which will administer the sustainability plan by among other things, seeking input from residents. Kaptain said he anticipates many focus groups will occur throughout the coming year as the city seeks ways it can improve its green initiatives.

"These community meetings are critical if Elgin's sustainability plan is going to mean anything to the average resident," said Kaptain. "We need to know how we can improve things like mass transportation to make jobs accessible for everyone."

The next network presentation is at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the library and is called, "Mass Transit in Elgin: Its Past, Present and Future." Elgin historians Mike Alft, Bill Briska and Jerry Turnquist will show pictures and discuss how the city's transportation system has changed and what it may look like in the future with potentially much higher gas prices and a population base expected to approach 200,000 by 2030.

On Feb. 17, Elgin architect Eric Pepa will explain parts of Kane County's 2030 Master Plan and how residents, businesses and government can contribute to it. The March 17 presentation will feature local experts and update attendees on Elgin's Sustainable Community Plan.

The network is seeking community input for other seminars for 2009.

To make a suggestion, visit the organization's Web site at www.elgin-ecn.org.