Let’s weed out a bad decision

Re: “City approves more mowing of dandelions,” Sept. 29.

While many cities, several provinces, including Alberta, and numerous countries have acknowledged that controlling dandelions is a waste of resources and taxpayer dollars, the City of Calgary has created a dandelion suppression control unit for a cool $ 1.7 million.

When next spring rolls around, expect to see an echelon of mowers slaying the dandelion on city property and roadways.

In addition to increased mowing on city property — the benefits of which will be more compaction, flattened dandelion rosettes, driedout soil, an increase in C02 emissions and more dandelions — is a review of the city’s integrated pest management program and stakeholder consultation.

One can just imagine the rising call for more herbicide spraying, which can only be deemed “cosmetic” or “nonessential,” as esthetics was the main concern in administration’s report to council.

The $ 1.7 million would be better spent on naturalizing city roadways like our friends in Edmonton do, increased enforcement of the community standards bylaw ( long grasses and weeds on residential property comprised 70 per cent of the recorded complaints), hiring of knowledgeable weed inspectors to take care of regulated noxious and restricted noxious weeds under the Alberta Weed Control Act, the creation of pollinator parks, and education for councillors and homeowners, including incentives to adopt beneficial, ecological landscaping practices. Robin McLeod, Calgary