from Sonia Cirka:
This last Tuesday amidst a full house of concerned residents, Lanark Highlands township voted unanimously to vote for roadside spraying, despite the delegations by from two medical doctors Dr. Coombs MD and Linda Harvey MD asking them not to do so. Both local doctors, who are also landowners and farmers, voiced concerns about the problems of roadside spraying on human and ecological health and provided documentation from their research. A third speaker was disallowed even though there was time permitted , to present how roadside spraying would negatively impact beekeepers and pollinators.
The crowd became agitated as there was no opportunity for them to speak on this issue. Mayor Brian Stewart cautioned the residents to be more respectful. A petition signed by as many as 300 residents was not acknowledged during the meeting or included as communication. There were no residents to speaking for the roadside spraying, but Dr. Paula Stewart who was allowed a 20 minute presentation, assured the council that the herbicide Clearview was the only answer to combat wild parsnip, an idea that many locals disagree with. With spraying to commence in a few weeks, and with opposition growing in the community, the residents only option is to put up No spraying signs on their properties.