Weed fight cropping up

Published: March 24, 2009 7:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star

A committee proposing a ban on cosmetic use of pesticides in Vernon is running into opposition. Several yard care businesses have suggested that the city’s environmental advisory committee hasn’t done enough investigation into restricting chemical controls for weeds, and that their interests were ignored. “It is apparent that the environmental committee has a biased, prejudiced and pre-determined agenda that flies in the face of prudent scientific evidence, logic and morality,” said Dave Weatherill, president of Briteland, in a letter to council. “It is apparent that the environmental committee are following the lead of other communities who have chosen divisive, big stick, big brother community culture rather than cohesive, educational and encouragingly progressive community culture.” Other companies point out that they are licensed and comply with regulations, and they should have been consulted by the committee. “Cosmetic pesticide use has never been a problem in this community and I am not aware of any other problems elsewhere,” said Scotty Moffat, owner of Art Knapp Plantland, in a letter to council.

However, the committee chairman disagrees with the portrayal of her group. “There was no pre-conceived outcome nor was this matter initiated by the committee,” said Coun. Buffy Baumbrough. “The committee was asked by council to look at this issue.” Baumbrough added that there was considerable division among committee members and discussion was lengthy. “We reached consensus and every committee member felt it was a reasonable compromise.” What was recommended to council Monday was a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides on public lands in 2010 and on private lands in 2012. However, council decided to hold off on a decision until a meeting can be held with those in the yard care industry. “Some reasoned voices have asked to speak to us directly,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. Some councillors also question the definition of cosmetic pesticides and how that would impact safety concerns about weeds on sports fields and public walkways.“Weeds growing up through cracks in sidewalks isn’t cosmetic. You can trip on those,” said Coun. Shawn Lee.

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Morning Star Editorial Industry deserves to be heard

The yard care industry’s opposition to a proposed ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides was swift and completely understandable. Did members of the City of Vernon’s environmental advisory committee actually think it was acceptable to recommend a ban to council without consulting with impacted businesses first? How extensive was the committee’s research on the potential harm from chemicals if it didn’t talk to the professionals who handle pesticides and herbicides on a daily basis? By not bringing the industry to the table, all the committee did was feed the perception that it was biased and had already decided that a prohibition on cosmetic uses was the end goal of its process. And how does the committee actually define what is a cosmetic pesticide? Is it simply to stop the spraying of dandelions so yards take on a golf course-quality, or would it prevent applying chemicals to weeds that threaten safety on sports fields or break apart sidewalks?

Unlike the environmental advisory committee, city council showed leadership Monday when it deferred any decision on a ban until there can be public consultation, and specifically with lawn care companies and those who sell pesticides. Ultimately, a ban on the cosmetic application of pesticides may be what’s best for the community and the environment, but if such an initiative is going to work, it must be a co-operative effort and not dictated by a small group.