Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environmental Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community gardener reports mothball contamination; city arranges soil sampling
Summary
A gardener reported finding mothballs later identified as naphthalene at the city community garden; the city said it removed the materials and the garden will have soil sampling by Intertek PSI. The speaker asked for refunds of plot fees and policy changes to prevent recurrence.
Heather Redmond, a community gardener, told the Solon City Council on Aug. 3 that she found about 25 mothballs placed around the community garden in mid-July. Redmond said the substance was later disclosed as naphthalene, that gardeners continued to smell the odor, and that Intertek PSI would perform soil sampling.
Redmond described health risks cited by Poison Control and the National Pesticide Information Center and asked the city to refund this year's plot fees, credit gardeners for the 2027 season, and delegate operational management of the garden to the gardeners after testing and remediation. "As the negligent actions of the city posed a clear health risk and environmental contamination event, I ask that all gardeners plot fees for this year be refunded to the gardeners and also that we be credited for the 2027 season," Redmond said.
The record shows an email from Richard Parker notified gardeners that mothballs were removed and staff said they would continue checking the area; the council heard that testing would be performed by Intertek PSI and that the city had arranged for soil sampling. Council did not make an immediate decision on refunds or management changes at that meeting; staff indicated the safety and public properties committee will consider the matter at an upcoming meeting.
