The head of the City of Springfield’s Sustainability Division has resigned. Barbara Lucks, who has been with the city for 22 years and was its first sustainability officer, is leaving to work full time as a private consultant.
Some of her accomplishments include the attraction of Canbrands (now Nestle Purina PetCare to Springfield in 1998, which recycles mixed paper into animal bedding products; the creation of the annual Choose Environmental Excellence Awards Luncheon, which recognizes efforts and accomplishments in the environmental field and the creation of Springfield’s Green Building Task Force, which investigates and evaluates the latest "green building" policies, procedures and ordinances, and recommends their application to regional development.
Deputy City Manager Tim Smith says Lucks has been “Springfield’s environmental conscience” throughout her career.