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Ashwaubenon Park board keeps current herbicide and fertilization program after staff briefing
Summary
After a staff presentation on contractor practices, licensing and aquatic treatments, the Ashwaubenon Park & Rec Board voted to continue its existing herbicide and fertilizer operations with no changes.
The Village of Ashwaubenon Park & Recreation Board voted June 16 to continue its existing herbicide and fertilization regimen across athletic fields and select parks after a staff briefing on products, contractors and safety practices.
A Park & Rec staff member told the board the village uses a mix of contracted and in-house applications. The contracted work is handled by Spring Green — which staff said is located in the Village — while the larger, acreage-heavy areas such as the Ashwaubenon Sports Complex are treated by certified Park & Rec staff. "All of their applicators have a pesticide applicator's license from the state," the staff member said, describing both contractor and staff certification.
Staff said the same herbicide products commonly used by homeowners are applied on some park turf, and that certified applicators follow timing and notification practices to reduce exposure. Applications are scheduled early in the day when winds are typically lower; flags are placed at main entrances and, where playgrounds are nearby, extra flags are requested around those play areas. For wet areas with phragmites, the staff member said the department uses aquatic herbicides such as Rodeo or Habitat under Department of Natural Resources guidance.
A board member praised the written operational plan as balancing aesthetics with reduced human and environmental impact. Following that discussion, a motion was made and seconded to "continue with the status quo" on herbicide and fertilization operations; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
The board did not adopt any new restrictions or a moratorium at the June 16 meeting. Staff said they periodically rotate which parks receive treatments — typically returning to particularly weedy parks for a couple of years and then allowing them to go untreated for a period — and will continue to schedule applications to minimize conflicts with youth practices and events.
The decision leaves in place the current combination of contracted treatments, in-house applications for large sites, early-morning scheduling, entrance signage and use of aquatic products where wetlands and phragmites require them. The board did not record a roll-call vote; the action passed by voice vote and the meeting minutes will provide the official record.
