And then in Peru:
Minutes of the Recreation Board show approval of weed and feed by Turf Solutions These minutes were just approved on Tuesday.
Communications: Janice read a letter from Ray Zborowski ,
head coach, requesting use of the east field at Veteran’s Park from
8/3/15-9/15/15 for the Peru Parkside Boys Baseball team. Lynda saw no conflicts.
Turf Solutions will do the weed and feed this spring for the
fields $1347.00, already budgeted. It is too wet to spray just yet.
It took some time to find out that yes we do spray the ball diamonds used by our children, although it appears there is no communication between this recreation group and the administration of this city because I was informed parks were not sprayed even though I asked if the city sprayed or did we hire this out. I also understand this is done twice a year.
The article I shared is from Washington state but the information about the products does not pertain only to them.
50 comments:
Lois: So, are you saying that you asked the administration if they sprayed our parks and they responded "no"? Yet, upon doing some research you discovered that the rec board does indeed have the ball diamonds sprayed twice a year? In conclusion, if this is the case, it seems as though there is a lack of communication somewhere along the chain of command.
It is a good thing dogs are not allowed in the park. They warn you not to let your pets out in the yard after treatment with this stuff until it has rained a few times.
oh... and I can think of much better things to do with $1,347 besides killing weeds.
10:59 AM
I can only make that conclusion judged by the communication between city hall and myself and then reading the Recreation minutes that were just posted.
We do have 2 aldermen: Mueller and Sapienza that attend the Rec. meetings but do not believe it is required that they report back to the council. Years ago before Harl, aldermen were on the recreation board as part of their responsibilties. The last ones I remember were Jamie Mertel and T. Ferrari. Then I believe Public Property handled some of the park issues. Now everything has been absorbed into 2 committees and all things do no get watched as they should.
Thinking about this and wondering if this lack of communication is because the Rec. Bd. can spend their allotted money as they wish up to the $20,000 limit.
Also I wonder if signs are put up when the application is applied or not, so people would know.
who exactly did you speak to at city hall?
The Peru Town Forum is not looking to point fingers at anyone but to have a conversation between the Administration and its residents who are the users of the Park Systems Just stating that I went through the City Clerks office by email. The people there who relayed the info. they received emailed me. No one contacted me with any further information but I was not surprised about that.
People talk about presticides and dangers and herbicides are included in that heading. Reading about many pro active citizens working to make their city parks pesticide free encouraged me to try and find answers. I don't know where to contact Turf Solutions and I was not given that information.
I believe this is a local company. Maybe the rec board president should be contacted for the contact info to find out what they use.
From the Weed & Feed label:
"Keep pets and children off the lawn until after the first drenching rain after application. Visually inspect the lawn to ensure the granules are completely dissolved."
Son of a gun. I wonder why my 6 year old girls softball team can never keep their attention span for more than 2 batters, its the weed and feed on the field. I think they should put up a sign in the park and tell people...PLEASE DON'T EAT THE GRASS. Remember the good ole days when everybody that played at McKinley Park would get poison ivy?
presticides and herbicides as opposed to weed and feed are apples to oranges. I am glad to see the field is prayed so the grass grows for nice turf for the kids and I am glad the city is not using presticides and herbicides. You don't have a clue if you think they are one and the same. Looks like the city is again on top of things.
5:03 PM
Evident you did not read the link I posted and evidently you want to believe what you want whether it is true or not.
They should replace the grass with gravel. Less maintenance - lay a good layer of weed poison. Lay down plastic and about a foot of sand and then cover in gravel. Nothing will grow. No grass cutting. No maintenance.
Weed and feed is just as dangerous as plain old weed killers. Please read the labels carefully. Some of the product experts request that you do not retreat your ground for at least 30 days because the product is still active in the soil. Do not let your children or pets on the property that is being sprayed with any weed killers or pesticides. Activists and other health care organizations are finding even greater risks associated with continual use of these products. I anticipate many of these products will be banned from use in the next 10 years. Also, when playing in the yard or parks, if you don't see dandelions or clover, get out asap. Weed killer has been applied. If in doubt about the dangers of pesticide/herbicide use, by all means, take a soil sample to an out of town agency approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The fee is around $100 based on the chemicals that you want to test for. They will be able to tell you what is in your soil. Also, if I read the act correctly, a special government license is required to administer pesticides/herbicides to govt owned facilities and park districts. Your average Joe landscaper probably doesn't have the right licensing and mandatory insurance coverage. This information should be readily available by the municipality that hired the contractor per the Illinois regulations. Also, the fines are extremely hefty for those that violate the act right down to the company that provided the chemical to the applicator and the agency that hired them. Best to follow the rules with these products. Society is becoming extremely aware of the dangers of these products and they want the rules followed.
If you look at the minutes from the last public services meeting you will notice that they want to spend approximaly $10,000 on another lawn mower for the cemetery. I'm pretty sure we just purchased a new one not long ago but that's not the point of my post. In the same minutes they talk about the possibility of farming out the grass mowing at the cemetery. If that happens what will we do with a new $10,000 lawn mower? The minutes also reveal that for a little over $2,000 we could get the present mower repaired. Wouldn't that make more sense until a decision is made (even though alderman Waldorf stated he did not want to put money into the old one)? Food for thought and discussion.
The answer is gravel.
I like how people make up their own laws.
I believe the term "weed and feed" is being used generically in the meeting minute that where mentioned. Sort of like saying "Coke" for Cola. There was a company name mentioned. That company provides services to many commercial, residential, and government entities. I am confident that they are using the appropriate chemical for the circumstances.
My question would be - why is the recreation fund being used? Should this not come from other funds that are used to maintain public property? The recreation fund should be restricted to providing recreational activities to the citizens of Peru.
I think that's the point that Lois is trying to get across 9:59 and that is that they "are" using chemicals and that "no" chemicals of any kind should be used in parks.
I agree with your next statement that recreations funds should be used for that purpose only - recreational activities.
-------------Special Report------------
The weed and feed scandal has one party claiming that no weed and feed was used and another party approving weed and feed application to Peru ball fields.
Should kids play on those fields? Should signs be posted to remind all to not eat the grass? Is the quality of play effected by the weed and feed inhalation? Are local school using weed and feed in open play areas? Has this had a effect on poor local ACT scores? I hope 60 minutes comes to Peru to investigate this weed and feed scandal. I can see more of these local Illinois politicians covering up the use of weed and feed.
It is a good thing they filter this through the non-elected board. That way the city has plausible deniability. I applaud their forethought in keeping this "under the rug."
I think part of the problem with kids today is that they are not exposed to anything. There is a movement in the medical field to expose kids to peanuts and other allergens in order to build up a tolerance.
Not really related to weed killer. But come on people. Do we think the kids are going to eat the grass? If so, the only solution is the gravel suggestion which was probably made in jest. But if you don't want ugly plants growing, the only way to accomplish that without poison is to remove the soil.
11:34 AM
No they probably won't eat the grass but since our skin is the largest organ of the body, the exposure when falling or playing on the grass might allow some of the chemicals to be absorbed by the skin and respiratory could be another problem.
We need to find to new ways to solve problems. Just because chemicals were considered the best way to eliminate weeds in the past does not been it is the safest as we found out with Agent Orange and DDT. Our children should not be experinents.
I used to play in the Peru sewers. There is one down at west end of the 13th Street Creek. At one time you could walk all the way to the river in the sewers. Great place to cool off on those hot days back in the 1970'a before air conditioning.
I miss those days. As a child less than 10 years old it was not unusual to disappear all day - not returning until the TV shows started at 7:00 PM.
Just took a stroll around town. Witnessed 6 of our summer helpers on the minor league diamond. Some were working, some talking, some texting. Is there nothing else for these kids to do? Then send them home!
Does anyone know if this "Turf Solutions" business is local or not? Can't seem to find it in a phone book or on line.
1:33, what do you mean. They are being taught good public sector employee union work ethics.
This ranks up there as one of the dumbest conversations on this blog and that is saying something. I have kids and I treat my lawn. I of course don't have them on the lawn right after an application but I will bet you I am putting my kids less at risk than driving them in a car, flying in a plane, using eletronic devices, feeding them ice cream etc. etc. It is doing no harm to them or my family or my neighbors. You can buy it at Menards in big bags so the city is not hiding something. Come on people. This is getting ridiculous.
3:08 PM
Glad all is well with you but be aware that a lot is going on outside you yard and most chemicals have results and most are not good. Just because Menards sells this stuff does not make it safe. Research the internet and I am sure you will find many educated scientists that will dispute your theories of safety.
When do the Peru Concerts start this summer? Does anyone know who we will be getting? I haven't seen anything advertised.
The Peru Concerts for a Cause have been canceled. They don't make enough money anymore.
With the expansion in the number of hangars at the Peru Airport there will no longer be enough room left to stage the concerts. This is a significant advancement for Peru and as much as Mayor Harl was criticized he should now be thanked.
This is crazy! Did anyone ask the people if they wanted new hangers or concerts? Hangers for who? Big shot one percenters or Corporations? And what does a goofy hanger have to do with anything. There is still lots of space up there for concerts and other things. When is the Circus coming back? Peru needs to evaluate priorities and do what the people want.
No this is not crazy, nor should anyone in charge of managing Peru should have to ask the people if they wanted hangers or concerts at a facility that multi million's of dollars have been spent on for a airport. I believe that one of the hangars is for the heart service facilities. Sounds like a very good cause. Frankly it sounds as if you are simply pulling ones leg for the fun of it.
When Washington School is demolished has there been any talk of donating this area and Washinton Park as a family area for circus' and fireworks. If this is in the plans I am sure many other events would surface to take place on such a idea location.
Airplanes make noise. Just like that Army plane that keeps flying around here. It is scary and very loud. It should be banned! Concerts make music. We should have more concerts than airplanes. Maybe tell the Mall they have to let us use the parking lot for concerts. I mean that thing is huge!
The talk is that it will become a soccer field.
Nobody plays soccer. That is a suburban "sport" .
I heard they have "Underwater Soccer" at the new multi-million dollar "LP Sports Complex." I guess they should have spent more time on drainage and less time trying to justify this excessive extravagance that we don't need, we don't want, and will never fully utilize.
A soccer field. Get real. The average age around here is 42 years old, and getting older. Put in some picnic tables and a shelter. Run some lights. Set up a beer garden all summer long. That is what will be used by the majority of the people. Not some kids soccer field. Because - there are no kids!
The last time the airport was discussed was about those concerts and many who didn't want concerts at the airport. Now, we are against those who build corporate hangers? Those millionaires that provide companies and jobs for many of us. Concerts make noise and airplanes make noise? I have a solution for those who have opposed concerts and hangers and airplanes and noise. Find a place in the woods and recuse yourself from society. Please don't blog anymore, you lower the IQ of our area.
9:40, Whey can't our economic person get restaurants that people like? I think Peru should get a White Castle and a Jack in the Box. We also need horseback riding stables. That would be fun.
9:21, do you ever ride by Baker Park during soccer season, what do you mean there are no kids, it's loaded.
Most of those kids are not from Peru. If it is as crowded as you say, how much money is the City making from this? Are they charging the out of towners to use our parks? Also, if we are going to set up sports fields, they should be for American sports.
Anon 12:19 When the whole world is a global market you must have recently stepped out of your cocoon to be so out of touch. Take into consideration that all local swimming pools are being used by Peru children and adults at very little cost and a lot of savings to Peru taxpayers. Not only the swimming pool but area shoppers buying in Peru are helping pay for our schools and roads. Also those playing soccer which is a foreign sport but in the U.S. they play with American rules and a American size field.
I don't think so 1:11. Anyway, the Baker Park is supposed to be for the people that live up there.
Isn't Baker Park on Marquette Street and Baker Lake on Airport Road? Is Baker Park privately owned so that it could be only for the people who live up there?
8:36, parks are for neighborhoods.
I remember when parks where very territorial back in the 70's. This carried over into Little League Baseball. If your home field was Sunset Park - you where considered rough and tumble. The kids that played at Washington Park feared you. Ha Ha, whet fun days those where. If they Baker Park back then and they had ball diamonds there, those kids would be a nervous wreck. Constantly in fear of the tough kids from "the south side."
Is the guy that built the corporate hanger the same man that manages the company that has hit the social media pages in regards to the 10 van loads of possible illegals that were shipped in to work at his company?
yup.
and he is building that hanger with government subsidies while he hires "seasonal workers" from out of state at starvation wages.
It is time to end ALL Ethanol Subsidies. Let the Agriculture Fuel Industry stand on its own! No More Burning of Food paid for by Tax Dollars!
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