FCHA and the 10 Percent Challenge

Mount Vernon’s “10% Challenge” will kick off with a brown bag luncheon at the City Hall downtown at noon, Thursday, October 1. Bring a brown bag; drinks will be provided. City environmental officer Andrew Trampus will give a brief presentation on recycling opportunities planned for the community. Lee Elliott, City Administrator, will provide an overview of the program.



The program is designed to promote recycling, reduction of energy and water consumption and to promote exercise. Citizens are urged to sign up for the “10% Challenge.” The form is available from the city office; or you can find it on line at the link below and print it from there (just click the URL with your mouse; or, if that doesn't work, copy and paste the URL into the address line of your Internet browser):



http://www.comvtx.com/docs/1-CHALLENGE.pdf



Please check out the materials and consider signing on and returning your completed form to the city. The historic preservation movement has adopted sustainability as the best means of preservation. The preservation standpoint is that adaptation of existing buildings saves tremendous energy and protects our natural resources. The city’s program is consistent with the preservation movement. The city literature states that a sustainable environment is a key goal for the city and that the city government will promote a campaign to promote these goals with citizens acting locally and thinking globally. City manager Lee Elliott says, “We will promote sustainability.” He says a broad definition for sustainability is “decision-making based on choices that will leave the planet better off for your kids, grandchildren and future generations.” The City Council of Mt. Vernon resolved this year to base city economic policy in sustainability.



Check out the materials on the web. You’ll be proud to be part of this community. Mt. Vernon and Franklin County are joint participants in the State Historical Commission’s Visionaries in Preservation program (VIP). Concerns for sustainability were first recognized under the leadership of the 2008 FCHA president John Stephenson and public policy chair Joe Andrews. Their leadership now leads to this adoption of policy. The VIP committee meets at 5:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at City Hall under the leadership of its chair, Lillie Bush Reves. Come sit in on a session. You’ll be proud of this team effort.

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