Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 12 January 2010 10:52 107.5 KISSFM:
Vernon council members need more time to think about a proposed bylaw limiting cosmetic pesticide use. After a long discussion at Monday's meeting, council tabled the issue for two weeks to get more information. The policy would be phased-in for parks and other public land this year, with private land to start in 2012. Councillor Jack Gilroy has a problem with telling residents what they can --- or can't do --- with their yards. "When it comes to my neighbor or myself wanting to take care of their yards, I don't know why government has to get involved with an everyday thing I've been doing my entire life." Other council members, including Patrick Nicol, have concerns about the costs of natural weed control which could be several hundred thousand dollars more than using pesticides. Nicol says, "For example, Lakeview Park, (the city currently spends) $50 ( on weed control) and it seems to be working pretty good, versus $9,100, so that's a challenging issue. Anyone who thinks that's a simple issue is wrong."
Cosmetic pesticides are defined in a city report as "those substances which are intended to control weeds which do not pose any physical threat to health or infrastructure, but which are to be removed for aesthetic purposes only. Cosmetic pesticides are not those used for agricultural purposes, for infrastructure maintenance, to protect homes, for the elimination of noxious and invasive weeds, or to ensure the health of the community."
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