We applaud the board of trustees’ decisions last week to eliminate the amount of chemical pesticides, particularly weed killers used in or near the village.
The board adopted a policy that would halt the use of chemical pesticides on village owned and maintained property as soon as possible and also approved sending a letter to the state Department of Transportation asking it to stop the spraying of weed killing chemicals along guard rails, at the base of sign posts and around culverts on state Route 80 on the western shore of Otsego Lake the village’s drinking water source.
The policy adopted by the village was aimed primarily at Doubleday Field where weeds are sprayed with Roundup on the outfield warning track and under the first base bleachers near where Willow Brook runs to Otsego Lake. A fungicide is also used on the field.
The village is already running a comparison test with an organic herbicide to replace Roundup with the intention of getting away from a dependence on chemicals.
“My hope is that by the end of the season we’ll not be using Roundup anymore,” Mayor Jeff Katz said.
The DOT’s use of chemical herbicides on the roadsides poses a threat to the lake from runoff, especially in stretches where the roadway is very close to the shore line. It creates further problems when the weeds and grass, whose roots were holding the soil and stabilizing the banks, die and are no longer there. The area can become more susceptible to erosion during rain storms and allow increased sediment to enter the lake.
We believe the board of trustees made the right decision. We would have preferred to make it an outright ban rather than “as soon as possible,” but this is a step in the right direction.Now it is up to property owners to follow the board’s example and rid their households of the chemical weed and insect killers that pose a threat to themselves, their children and our environment.
It might also be a good opportunity to take another look at the use of turf management chemicals at the Leatherstocking Golf Course adjacent to the lake.
Our Opinion
June 7, 2012
Our Opinion: Board made right decision
- Our Opinion
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- Congratulations Cooperstown softball It is hard to believe that Cooperstown's softball team had never won a division or playoff title until this week.
- Happy CYB has found a home Cooperstown Youth Baseball has finally found a home. However, it is a bit sad it could not be in the village that is often referred to as the "home of baseball."
- Change is never taken lightly We are glad the Cooperstown Central School Board finally chose a nickname, but were surprised by the plummeting attendance rate at meetings pertaining to the matter. What seemed to be a hot-button issue attracting nearly 100 people for and against a name change at initial meetings seemed to simmer to complete no shows toward the end.
- Tax cap is deceiving As if figuring out one's tax bill isn't mind boggling enough. In its second year of implantation, the 2 percent limit on property tax increases makes things all that more complicated. One cannot just assume his or her individual taxes will not increase more than the cap threshold.
- Earth Festival is a good start to spring We hope Mother Nature brings us some sunshine and spring weather this weekend. But if not, there is a predominantly inside event coming up that should help get visitors thinking about spring.
- Education heading in wrong direction It is good to see that with teachers changing their curriculums to teach for the Common Core State Standards that there is still some hands-on learning going on locally.
- Good luck, Tommy Perhaps the third time will be the "charm" for Cooperstown Central School seventh-grader Tommy Knight.
- Eliminate the gap elimination adjustment Despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo's promise in his budget address to increase funding for education, local school officials are saying they are not receiving enough state aid to fund even basic services.
- Groff is off to good start Former Cooperstown Central School student and athlete Sarah Groff visited Cooperstown in November to share her dream of making it to the Olympics. She had just missed the podium at the London Games.
- Blindsided by CV-S vote As we all know, school districts are facing financial insolvency and are being forced to reconsider the ways they do business. That includes mergers when fielding athletic teams.
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