Next week Wednesday, the Environmental Commission will be reviewing a "natural lawn" ordinance. Below is the document created by David Kanning from the Planning Department relative to this ordinance:
Natural Landscaping Memo - 8-18-10
This ordinance was brought to light after a resident, Robert Swendrowski, has made an issue over his neighbor's lawn, which is more natural and without pesticides.
In response to the commission's agenda & packet being distributed for next week's meeting, Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm sent an e-mail to city staff with some suggested documents to be included in the packet. Mr. Swendrowski decided to respond to Wilhelm's suggestion with some remarks of his own. It thus began an interesting e-mail conversation. The conversation is below (or after the jump):
From: Kristen Wilhelm
Subject: State Laws and pesticides in drinking water
To: LIST OMITTED BY FRANKLIN TODAY
Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 5:13 PM
David (FT Note - David Kanning is the Plan Staff representative),
You may also want to consider providing the Commission information on the pros of using less chemicals. I was thinking of this because yesterday my mother was diagnosed with cancer.
I've provided two attachments but there are many other articles on the web.
Kristen
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On Aug 19, 2010, at 12:24 PM, Robert Swendrowski wrote:
Kristen, Thanks for the e-mail. Now I know why you live in an apartment. I know when I stopped by on 7/3 I saw the little signs on the lawn indicated that a company sprayed the lawn. Have you ever talked to the owner of the complex about the possible contamination? I doubt it!!! If you did you would be having your neighbors mad and you would probably be evicted.
Bob Swendrowski
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From: Kristen Wilhelm
Subject: Re: State Laws and pesticides in drinking water
To: LIST OMITTED BY FRANKLIN TODAY
Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 1:30 PM
Mr. Swendrowski, I believe you are being overly defensive regarding the material I provided, which I understood to be factual data that may assist the Commission in making a balanced, informed decision. I wholly intended to allow information on both sides of the issue not attack you personally. As you are aware, Franklin is a community of more than 30 thousand people with many opinions, some which may not be in 100% agreement with yours. Therefore, we must not fight one agenda.
For clarification, I live in a condominium not an apartment. The Homeowners Association, which I am part of, recently significantly reduced lawn applications to spot treatments and we completely cut out pesticide spraying applications used previously. Both your assumptions as to why I live here and your doubts about my contamination concerns (mainly for my children) are unfounded. Furthermore, there are two condo associations side by side. The little signs as you refer to were on the adjoining condos association property. You may have noticed when you came to take photos of my home, that there is a posted sign at the entrance indicating this is a private drive for "residents and guest only". Although I did not call you out on this, I did not grant you permission to photograph my home, myself, or to provide these photos in a public setting as you did.
I do not wish to debate you in an email format. If you would like to call me you know how to reach me.
Thank you to all who expressed concern for my mother and family.
Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm
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From: Robert Swendrowski
Date: August 19, 2010 3:02:45 PM CDT
To: Kristen Wilhelm
Subject: Re: State Laws and pesticides in drinking water
The little sign was right by your car that you and your friend were cleaning for the parade. If it is private property, then why do you list your address on Franklin's web and in print. I just wonder if you would prevent any of your constituents in your district from coming over since it is private property. Sorry I missed the private drive sign, but like I informed you I thought you lived in a house and that is why I asked were the address when I pulled in and then I finally recognized you. Your friend objected to the picture, not you. You also stated that you did not want to be in the picture because you were not presentable. It is strange that after I took the picture we had a nice conversation. Your friend and I even talked about something we have in common and that is being history buffs.
No more e-mails. You also have my phone number. See you at a future council meeting.
