BULLETIN – March 7, 2018    

By Tim Dempsey

President elect Diana Taylor opened the meeting, Pat Hart gave the pledge, and Bob Zamor led us in prayer. No volunteers for a song.

BRAGS:

-Elliott Pinsel bragged that his son (“Bacon Boy”) won his weight class in the State wrestling tournament.

-Dave Potts just returned from a golf vacation in Ft. Meyers.

-Ron Lapins’ daughter has a teaching job at DePaul.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-Summer Fundraiser meeting is next week.

-Steve Risley is sending out grant applications this week. If you have an organization that we haven’t funded please let Steve know.

-The Fundraiser cleared $55,000 to $60,000. Great job everyone!!

FUN & FROLICS:

Elliott Pinsel entertained us with a “discussion” about movies from the 70’s.

PROGRAM:

Today’s program was Brian Dorn, Executive Director of the North Shore Water Reclamation District. In the early 1900’s Lake Michigan was polluted. Towns along the coastline were dumping sewage directly into the lake. Beaches were contaminated. In 1911 the North Shore Sanitary Act was passed and the Sanitary District was created in 1914. In 1915 the District had 36,000 residents and was comprised of about 25 square miles. The District consists of 5 wards with an elected trustee for each. In the 20’s and 30’s 3 water treatment plants were built. In the 50’s the plants were modernized using new technologies.

During the 60’s and 70’s new legislation was passed and planning was done. The Water Quality Act was passed and in 1972 came the Clean Water Act in response to the river in Cleveland Ohio catching fire because it was so polluted. The Gurnee Plant was constructed in the 1970’s and major construction improvements were made to the plants in Highland Park and Waukegan. In the 1980’s the 3 plants were automated cutting payroll from 200 to under  100. The waste water is now disinfected using UV radiation. The district was rebranded in 2014 changing the name from waste water to water reclamation.

Today the District serves 300,000 people in eastern Lake County. The District controls about 100 miles of sewers that range in size from 36” to 72”. The plants produce 3 products: clean water, nutrients and energy in the form of biogas.  Challenges include: 1. An aging infrastructure, 2.infiltration and inflows, 3.Nutrient pollution, 4. Contaminants including pharma, oils and greases, and chemicals.

FOOD PANTRY:

The Club collected $240 for the Food Pantry.

RAFFLE:

Daily: $50 won by Rick Mittelman.

Progressive: $1452 (6 cards left!) Dave Potts drew the 4 of hearts. ROLLOVER!!!

Next Week:

Greeter and prayer: Diana Taylor

Fun & Frolics: Dave Potts

Thought for the day: “Victory belongs to the most preserving”. Napoleon