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Cut your grass, or face a fine

June 6, 2013   ·   0 Comments

Under the Cleaning and Clearing By-law the Town of New Tecumseth requires you to keep your grass under 30cm or you will be fined.

Property owners in urban areas must “keep all grass and weeds sufficiently cut and trimmed in a preventative manner’’ to prevent the ripening and disposal of weeds and other noxious plants, to present a neat appearance to the public” otherwise the By-law Department will be knocking on your door.

In 2012, a total of 37 weed complaints were received regarding 37 properties as compared with a total of 35 weed complaints regarding 28 properties received in 2011. Each complaint was investigated and action was taken. All complaints were in regards to long grass, weeds and debris.

Enforcement of the Cleaning and Clearing By-Law included a site visit, a discussion with the property owner and a follow up visit to see whether or not the property owner was able to comply with the Town’s request to cut the grass and remove the weeds.

The Town also received two complaints in 2012 regarding the presence of poisonous weeds that were identified as Giant Hogweed and Poison Ivy.  The Giant Hogweed removal was carried out with a backhoe to prevent any staff from having direct contact with the plant. The plant was then buried to prevent germination.

In 2013 it is anticipated that pest control complaints will continue to be dealt with according to the Town’s Pest Control Policy and the Cleaning and Clearing By-law. There will be a minimum of two passes of roadside mowing and the brush control program will be used in rural areas.

Staff will also continue to monitor identified areas where Poison Ivy and Giant Hogweed have been growing and will dispose of the plants according to the latest removal practices provided by government agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and local Conservation Authorities.

By Wendy Soloduik

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