By Chris Spangler
The Fort Atkinson City Council on Tuesday recognized Heart of the City for its commitment to promoting environmental sustainability.
Council President Chris Scherer presented the city’s 2021 Green Recognition Award to the grassroots community organization.
Accepting the award on behalf of Heart of the City was member Mark Furst.
“In July 2007, the city’s Climate Protection Ad Hoc Committee recommended adopting a Green Recognition Program to showcase the environmental efforts of area businesses, community organizations and individual citizens,” City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire said. “The award recognizes that a healthy economy and healthy environment are mutually supportive,” she added.
LeMire noted that a committee made up of members of the city council, business community and city staff unanimously chose Heart of the City for the honor.
In nominating the organization for the award in the community organization category, the group’s president, Frankie Fuller, cited several ways that the organization has helped Fort Atkinson become both cleaner and greener.
She wrote in her nomination that member Michael Marr has provided the city with his engineering expertise to review and suggest possible geothermal alternatives to the core energy resources of a potential new housing development slated off Banker Road.
In addition, Fuller reported that Furst has provided technical expertise to a new business entrepreneur interested in installing Fort Atkinson’s first electrical vehicle charging station.
“Third, the entire membership of the group helped to promote a Solar Group Buy program for not just Fort Atkinson, but the entire county, along with Waukesha County,” Fuller wrote in her nomination.
She said that Heart of the City worked with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and Waukesha Green Team to offer a discount on solar installations for both counties, of which some county residents took advantage.
“We are also working to plan a more regular schedule so that it becomes easier for residents to save for this purchase and move on it when the opportunities arise,” she stated.
Lastly, Fuller said that Heart of the City promoted “No Mow May” last year to save pollinators. It is doing so again this spring.
“Mowing lawns less frequently has a positive effect on the air quality, protection of pollinators and improves soil and reduces risk of flooding,” the nomination stated.
Fort Atkinson City Council President Chris Scherer, at left, presents the 2021 Green Recognition Award to Heart of the City member Mark Furst.
Heart of the City members Kitty Welch, seated and from left, Mark Furst and Frankie Fuller, and Jean Brooks, standing, from left, Joan Callan, Barbara Brouwer, Mike Helmich and Dr. Don Williams were on hand Tuesday when the Fort Atkinson City Council recognized the organization as its 2021 Green Recognition Award recipient.
Chris Spangler photos.
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