By Elizabeth Black
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The latest organization to complete requirements for Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification is the Clarksville Police Department. (CPD).
City of Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, and Chamber of Commerce Director Melinda Shepard were among those who attended to congratulate the Clarksville Police Department on their certification.
Both mayors took the opportunity to thank CPD employees for their dedication to the safety of Clarksville citizens.
Administrative Support Specialist Misty Mackens led the effort with support from Donna Powell, Angela Downey and Lieutenant Steve Warren. Mackens explained some initiatives the CPD had taken to earn certification. “We were doing some recycling but through the process we found we could do more.
Chief Ansley encouraged everyone to participate which made a big difference and we recently downsized the size of our dumpster as a result of our efforts. We started a 24-hour public depository for medication so we could dispose of meds properly and keep them out of our water system. We’ve reduced our paper use by more than 20% in just eight months. Everything was faxed in the past, now we do it electronically. We did hand receipts for tickets but they are all electronic now. Almost all our processes are now electronic. We have also ordered rain water catchers to use for watering our landscaping.”
Police Chief Al Ansley explained that for every ticket receipt there used to be three copies, but because officers have computers in their cars they now need only one copy. Ansley added, “One of our bulk trash items was used toner cartridges. They are all sent back to the vendors now.”
Deputy Chief Mike Parr said, “We’ve even gone to our training companies to request only one copy of the 100 page booklets they used to send with the option to download the rest to our computers for training purposes. This is a big reduction in paper that we requested from our vendor.”
“One question we always ask at the ribbon cuttings is if you see some of people taking these practices home with them rather than just doing it at work,” said McMillan.
Mackens responded, “Absolutely, we’ve got the large paper shredder so people bring in paperwork from home. They can turn in their unused medications and we have areas in almost every area of the building for recycling. Some people bring in things from home and others have started bringing items to the recycling centers.”
“We joke about our changes and how it has made a difference in the way we look at things but it has even shifted my personal habits and thinking. We took the challenge you handed us seriously Mayor McMillan and we’re glad we did it.” said Ansley.
Bowers asked if the CPD has seen a decrease in their energy use since they began the process. Ansley answered, “We actually moved some of the lighting out and should be seeing a decrease in our bill. We followed recommendations from an energy evaluation with CDE. Decreasing the lighting will make a difference.”
Parr mentioned that lighting was updated with an energy efficiency grant in 2010. “Our training classroom is automated and people have been turning lights off in unoccupied rooms since we’ve put up signage and encouraged people in email reminders to shut off the lights. It is working.”
The mission of the Clarksville Police Department is to maintain a highly professional and efficient work force to ensure a high quality of life for our citizens through crime prevention, enforcing laws, and promoting safety by using traditional and community policing methods, creative problem solving, and controlling our physical environment.
For information on how your business can participate in the CMC Green Certification Program, contact Michelle Newell at manewell@mcgtn.net.