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Concerns over toxins, cost lead Roeland Park council to decide against waging war on curb weeds

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Curb_weeds

By Holly Cook

Roeland Park city councilors Monday decided against launching a pilot weed control program that would address weeds along the city’s curb line.

Councilmembers debated several versions of a program before nixing the idea entirely. A point of contention was whether to use a chemical product that would only require one application or a more environmentally-friendly product that could require up to three applications.

The cost of the program was estimated to range between $3,100 and $11,800 depending on which product councilmembers chose.

Councilmember Teresa Kelly strongly supported using the green products instead of the potent chemicals noting that whatever is sprayed will end up in the water supply.

“I would take a second look at using that toxic of a product,” she said.

Director of public works Jose Leon cautioned the council that the pilot program could create an unrealistic expectation among residents.

Councilmember Sheri McNeil agreed with Leon and said she was concerned residents would start expecting the city to spray weeds along sidewalks and in other areas, in addition to spraying along the curb.

“I really think we are going to open a can of worms with this honestly,” McNeil said.

Kelly agreed the program could cause too high of an expectation and said she would like to see an increased effort to educate residents how to manage weeds safely and effectively.

Councilmember Michael Rhoades suggested the city offer small spray bottles of environmentally-friendly weed control to any interested residents.

“You are giving them the product to actually take care of the sidewalks and the curbs for themselves and their neighbors,” Rhoades said.

Mayor Joel Marquardt said he would like the city to use the environmentally-friendly product for a one-year trial run.

“I would like to see it tried once,” he said.

Councilmember Becky Fast sided with Marquardt, but the majority of councilmembers agreed not to take action on the item.

About the author

Jay Senter
Jay Senter

Jay Senter is the founder and publisher of the Post.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he worked as a reporter and editor at The Badger Herald.

He went on to receive a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, where he earned the Calder Pickett Award. While he was in graduate school, he also worked as a reporter for the Lawrence Journal-World.

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