RESOLUTION NO. RS2009-599

A resolution recognizing BURNT’s 20th Anniversary.

WHEREAS, BURNT, initially known as Bring Urban Recycling to Nashville Today, formed in 1988 to stop the $300 million expansion of the downtown Nashville Thermal Plant including a solid waste processor on Rolling Mills Hill; and

WHEREAS, BURNT is a volunteer, non-profit citizens group whose mission is to improve the environment through citizen involvement with government, business, and academia; and

WHEREAS, BURNT celebrated its 20th Anniversary on 11 December 2008 with a nationally known solid waste researcher and speaker who is actively; and

WHEREAS, BURNT has been an effective and persistent advocate by providing to elected officials and other decision makers written research materials on questions important to the group; and

WHEREAS, BURNT has been actively involved with neighborhoods facing environmental problems including Sylvan Heights, Edgehill Avenue, North Nashville, Cockrill Bend, and Metro Center, Germantown, and in Dickson County and is an active member of Community Shares, a state wide work place giving campaign for social change groups; and

WHEREAS, the environmental work of BURNT has also stimulated value of commercial real estate in downtown Nashville, the river front, Metro Center and Cockrill Bend by stopping expansion or shutting down chronic polluters such as the downtown Thermal Plant and the Rendering Plant; and

WHEREAS, BURNT has worked on several environmental justice issues including landfills with the Nashville Branch of the NAACP and the Dickson County Branch of the NAACP and a BURNT member received the "Through The Storm Award" in 2006 from the Tennessee State Conference NAACP; and

WHEREAS, BURNT has continued its efforts to improve solid waster policy in Nashville and Tennessee by participating in state solid waste reform including being named to the “State Solid Waste Reduction Task Force” which developed proposed solid waste regulations now before the State Solid Waste Board; and

WHEREAS, BURNT worked with the Tennessee General Assembly to protect the rights of local governments to regulate pesticide use, helped institute best management practices for pesticide use throughout all Metropolitan Nashville Government agencies and created safer mosquito control policies including improved notification, and best management practices by Metropolitan Nashville Government; and

WHEREAS, BURNT has educated citizens and policy makers on the dangers of low level, multiple chemicals throughout our environment and in humans which are passed through water, air, and food including use of sewer sludge--human and industrial waste--as fertilizer;

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council recognizes BURNT on their 20th anniversary and for their work to promote a toxic-free environment for Nashville and surrounding areas by promoting recycling, pesticide reform and citizen activism within the governmental process.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing BURNT’s 20th Anniversary.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to Mr. Bruce Wood on behalf of BURNT.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Vivian Wilhoite, Ronnie Steine, Mike Jameson, Megan Barry

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred:	Rules & Confirmations Committee
Introduced:	January 6, 2009
Adopted:	January 6, 2009
Approved:	January 7, 2009
By: