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4/9/2009
An open letter to Menasha Mayor Merkes & the Common Council
Mayor Merkes and members of the Menasha Common Council:
I have concerns I will present as a matter of concern at the Sustainability Board meeting I believe is scheduled for April 21.
First, I received the Horizon earlier this week... on paper, and through the U.S. Mail. Perhaps Menasha can begin our efforts to be a more sustainable community by using an e-mail newsletter, a substantially more affordable and more environmentally friendly approach. It would be fairly straightforward to attach a .pdf file of the newsletter to an outgoing e-mail, and have it instantly in the hands of those citizens who are truly concerned with reducing our impact on the environment.
Perhaps like many, I’m more inclined to read an e-publication when I’m a subscriber to it.
Surely, some in Menasha haven't taken the technology 'leap' and will require the paper edition for some time to come, but our world is changing and it will not be long (if we're not already there) before e-publication-preferring recipients will be in the majority.
Second, regarding your responsibility for the finances of Menasha Utilities and to ensure against future potential risks, I hope you will encourage MU to reconsider the fossil-fueled nature of the Steam Plant. As an alternative, MU should be encouraged to explore implementing more sustainable, renewable and environmentally friendly options for generating power at the Steam Plan.
In addition to my request to you to research alternative fuel sources for MU, I will ask the Sustainability Board to consider studying moving away from the fossil-fueled facility and moving forward with a clean, renewable, sustainable resource for energy production.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. Perhaps these ideas will help propel our city forward in some small way over the course of the next year.
Jeff Riedl, Menasha, WI
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| 2009 |
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