Public protest delays county's pesticide applications

By Cecilia Nasmith

Public concern has led Northumberland County to postpone a planned limited application of pesticide to control vegetation around guide rails on county roads.

These plans are on hold pending a staff report for county council on various options for addressing this vegetation, the county press release said.

Though the county achieves most of its vegetation control through such preventive-maintenance measures as mowing, pesticide is applied on a limited basis for weed and pest control in certain specific cases – such as around safety devices (like guide rails) in order to maintain visibility standards.

At any time such measures are deemed advisable, they are carried out by a licensed contractor in careful compliance with Federal and provincial legislation.

Concerns expressed by members of the public about this planned use of pesticides on county roads has led county staff to cancel the planned May 27 application. In the meantime, council has requested more information from staff on how best to maintain Ministry-mandated safety standards for visibility along these major roads, as well as public-safety standards with respect to noxious weeds.

The plan is for council to receive this report at a meeting in June, the date of which is being determined.

The agenda and accompanying materials for this meeting of council will be available in the Council Portal at https://northumberland.civicweb.net/ portal/.