Keep Rutherford County Beautiful Full Committee Meeting

Keep Rutherford County Beautiful

Full Committee Agenda

January 14th, 2025

Woodrow Jones Conference Room, 12 p.m.

Attendees: Gabe Isaac, Allie Houtz, Maddie Bartosh, Jerry Stensland, Jenna Bailey, Taylor Hardin, George and Marian Moyer, Amber Saint Clair, Dr. Brock Hefflin, Dana Bradley, Robin Worcester

1. Administrative

   1. AmeriCorps Project Conserve Member

      1. Hiring a Sustainability and Education Coordinator to help with KRCB programs and Broad River work

      2. $12,000 match from KRCB to fund this position, remaining funding and benefits are provided through AmeriCorps

      3. Timeline 

         1. Rolling applications, aiming to hire by early February

         2. 8-month, 1200 hour position from start date

      4. Recruitment is mainly done through AmeriCorps, also shared through ROC’s socials and email list

         1. Position posting: Open AmeriCorps Service Positions - Conserving Carolina AmeriCorps Project Conserve

         2. Committee members - please share with your networks or anyone who may be interested!

   2. Great to Greatest Grant

      1. Keep America Beautiful grant due on 1/17 (extended to 1/26)

      2. Grant topics:

         1. Recycling programs

            1. Requesting $250-500 for 5 large recycling bins for Rutherfordton Elementary 

            2. Reach other schools in the future as funding allows, potentially ICC

         2. Clean-up supplies

            1. Requesting $500 for grabbers and gloves

         3. Community Garden

            1. Requesting $1500 for a community garden along the Thermal Belt Rail Trail

            2. Supplies include garden bed building materials, soil, seeds and plants, fertilizer, and educational signage

            3. Native plants available for free at a nursery in Burnsville

            4. Robin mentioned scout groups to help with garden building

            5. Involve Ruff'ton Roots, Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, and/or other interested gardening groups

2. Upcoming 2025 programs

   1. Recycle Bots

      1. 3rd graders across the county

      2. Online submissions

      3. Rocki or Roxi visit classrooms to explain rules

      4. 7 categories, judge for each one narrows down top 8-10 (previously top 5)

      5. Updated prizes

      6. Information out to teachers by March 3rd, due date April 11th

   2. Spring Litter Sweep

      1. Leaders for groups

      2. Month of April, align with NCDOT’s sweep

      3. Building kits on Fridays

      4. Flyers by March

   3. Green Scholarship

      1. $1200 & $500

      2. Get in touch with funders

      3. Due date of March 28th

      4. Send out to guidance counselors and McNair by end of January

   4. River Sweeps

      1. Begin end of May (tentative based on river conditions)

      2. One public sweep per month

      3. More information coming soon as we learn more about river conditions, blockages, etc.

   5. Keep NC Beautiful partnership

      1. Potential sponsorship funding

      2. River sweep or other partner event in spring with KNCB volunteers

3. Upcoming Schedule

   1. Litter Committee Meeting – February 11th at 12 p.m.

   2. Full Committee Meeting – March 11th at 12 p.m.