Warm up those weed whips and make sure those lawn mowers have plenty of gas because a noxious weed ordinance patterned after one in Orion will be considered by the Oxford Township Board at its Wednesday, July 11 meeting.
‘Of all the different ones I’ve read, that’s the one I thought would most suit our needs,? said Treasurer Joe Ferrari.
Officials last week voted 5-2 to conduct a first reading of a proposed noxious weed ordinance for Oxford Township using a verbatim copy of Orion Township’s ordinance as a starting point.
Board members are expected to pick apart the Orion ordinance, deleting sections they don’t like and adding new language to make it more specific to Oxford.
Such an ordinance would make it unlawful to grow, cause or permit to grow any noxious weeds.
In addition to 12 specifically named plant varieties, such as ragweed, poison ivy and ox-eyed daisies, the Orion ordinance defines noxious weeds as ‘all types and varieties of grass and weeds which exceed the height of 12 inches above the ground level.?
If a resident does not comply after a few warnings, this type of ordinance would allow the township to take it upon itself to cut or destroy the noxious weeds, then bill the property owner.
Mick Steiner, the township resident who proposed enacting a noxious weed ordinance, consulted with township planner Don Wortman and Planning Commission Chairman Don Silvester to define the lot size to be affected by the proposed ordinance.
The three agreed it should apply to lots 25,000 square feet or less in any township subdivision where buildings have been erected on 50 percent or more of the lots.
To put that in perspective, a half-acre equals 21,780 square feet.
Supervisor Bill Dunn said he would like the proposed ordinance to affect lots of a smaller size. ‘I would like to keep it under a half an acre,? he said. ‘So, 20,000 square feet sounds good to me.?
How and who would enforce a noxious weed ordinance was discussed by officials.
Trustee Pat Fitchena said the township has the authority to appoint a ‘commissioner of noxious weeds,? someone to ride around the neighborhoods looking for violators. ‘I wouldn’t doubt that you could find a volunteer that might be willing to do that,? she said.
Orion’s ordinance calls for the township to appoint a ‘weed control officer,? who’s paid a salary and holds a two-year term of office.
But Dunn was opposed to the idea.
‘I don’t want (people) to be driving up and down the road looking for violations,? he said.
Dunn said if the township received a complaint, he could direct the current ordinance officer to go out to the scene and ‘make a determination.?
‘Anytime an ordinance violation’s called in, we’re obliged to go out and look at it,? the supervisor said. ‘I think it’s pretty easy to determine whether they’re in violation or not.?
Trustee Sue Bellairs, who’s opposed to any noxious weed ordinance, expressed her concern that feuding neighbors could use the ordinance against each other, putting the township in the middle.
‘I see a real potential for abuse,? she said.
Bellairs was also against setting a precedent of making ordinances that apply to everybody ‘just because a few complain.?
When creating new ordinances, the trustee said the township should ‘look at the seriousness of the issue? and noxious weeds aren’t a health, safety or welfare concern.