The July 16th Ozark Chapter Conservation Committee Meeting was hosted by members and friends in southeastern Missouri. We especially appreciated the arrangements they had made with the jet stream — the weather felt more like southeastern Montana. Between bites of fresh bagels and organic produce, we managed to conduct a bunch of business.
Public Lands Issues
The Missouri Department of Conservation is proposing to sell part of the Weldon Spring Conservation area to Monsanto. The city of Weldon Spring and a number of local citizens oppose the sale. It is unclear who is initiating such sales of public lands. Ken will look into the matter, and will ask the Conservation Commission what their policy is on the sale of public lands.
Transportation Issues
Ron McLinden, Ginger Harris, and Caroline Pufalt plan to hold a meeting with Missouri Department of Transportation Director Henry Hungerbeeler in September. They plan to discuss the matter of enhancement of the I–70 corridor between Kansas City and St. Louis. Either the highway will be widened, or a new parallel highway will be built nearby. The Sierra Club delegation will discuss the feasability of an intercity rail system to relieve some of the non–freight traffic. The Long Range Transportation Plan is ready for public comment. You can find information concerning the plan at the Missouri Department of Transportation’s webpage at www.modot.state.mo.us
Energy Issues
We discussed the fact that the price of gasoline doesn’t really reflect its true cost to the environment and to human health. Ginger Harris agreed to head up a task force that will examine ways to educate the public on the impact our fuel dependency is having on our health and environment.
Local Group Reports
Trail of Tears Group (Southeastern Missouri)
Local Sierra Club activists are monitoring two Corps of Engineer projects in the area, and are submitting comments in opposition.
Osage Group (Central Missouri)
The Osage Group has decided to begin the fight against sprawl, a big issue in Columbia. Members have already formally stated some of their objections to the Metro 2020 Plan (Columbia’s master plan for growth over next 20 years). There is some good and some bad within the plan, so the Group will actively work to remedy what they think needs fixing. They anticipate that this work will remain their most important local issue for the next 20 years or so.
Thomas Hart Benton Group (Western Missouri)
Curbside recycling was put to a vote in Kansas City for the third time in 10 years on August 8th. This issue campaign had been the main focus of Thomas Hart Benton Group members for the past few months. Regrettably, the issue once again failed, but by a smaller margin than either of the two earlier attempts.
Eastern Missouri Group (Northeastern Missouri)
Group members are working with ProVote to register voters at transit areas, such as bus stops and train stations. Lemonade fundraising has been very successful so far this year due to lots of the sun’s good, hot weather and lots of the volunteers’ good, hard work.