Cornell Cooperative Extension Gives Local Property Clean Bill of Health; There is No Presence of Noxious Weeds

Newly Updated 5:29 pm, 10/26/17

From first receipt of the infringement letter, a local property owner had been trying to understand what he did wrong with regards to his property. He contacted the Chair of the SLI Grounds Committee, but the Chair was unable to answer his question. That's when he began to seek answers from other knowledgeable sources such as the Extension and the DEC. The local property owner believes that someone responsible for charging him with a violation should be able to explain either what he did wrong or what currently exists that allegedly doesn't meet standard. In the absence of that and in light of the Extension's conclusion, he is seeking exoneration. The SLI Grounds Committee Chair said that there is a misunderstanding on the part of the property owner but was unable to clarify what that might be.

A representative from the Wyoming County Cooperative Extension visited the property Tuesday after receiving a letter sent to the property owner but delivered to the Extension at their request. The representative thoroughly examined the property and concluded that there was no presence of "noxious weed" nor weeds of any other noxious nature present on the property. The property is therefore free of hazards and basically safe from harmful plants or seeds.

He further examined the Rose of Sharon bush and the Hydrangea bushes and concluded that this time of year would be inappropriate to prune or cut back these bushes since both bushes base their new growth on the timing of the pruning which should always be done in the Spring before new growth begins and not prior to winter when new growth should not be stimulated. In light of that he said that there did not exist a condition of overgrowth as seemed to be implied in the property owner's violation letter. The representative was unable to determine both what the letter and the reference to the Handbook was asking the property owner to do, saying the wording in the attached page from the Handbook was too vague to interpret.

The Cooperative Extension representative said he will put his report in writing and it should be available shortly. We will try to get a copy of that report and publish it for the SLI community to help put some residents' minds at ease, especially with regards to the charge of weeds with an alleged noxious status.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) also contacted the property owner Tuesday and indicated that they had already reduced their staff to winter levels and would be unable to examine the property until April of 2018. They are aware that the Cooperative Extension has inspected the property but would still want to examine the property with their personnel next Spring.