Kincardine Council

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Kincardine council will soon have a bylaw in place to eradicate giant hogweed from the municipality.

In committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (April 14), chief building official Michele Barr brought a recommendation from the building and planning committee.

Its proposal is to control giant hogweed in the urban areas through the property standards bylaw; and in the rural areas through the public works manager and the weed inspector. Bruce County council has added giant hogweed to its list of noxious weeds so municipalities can control it.

The plant looks like giant Queen Anne's Lace or wild carrot, and can cause skin irritation if people get tangled up in it.

"Is there much of it in Kincardine?" asked councillor Gordon Campbell.

"I'm not aware of any in the urban area," said Barr. "However, we are dealing with some in the rural area."

Mayor Larry Kraemer has had experience with trying to eradicate it from his property. "If it gets a foothold, it takes a decade of intense work to get rid of it," he said.

The bylaw will come forward to council for final approval April 21.

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Thursday, April 15, 2010