(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council voted to hold a public hearing to discuss adjusting its ordinance so residents can participate in No Mow May.
Current regulations call for grass to be cut when it gets to ten inches. The proposed change would suspend that ordinance from May 1st to the 31st for all residents participating in No Mow May. Councilmember George Hontos asked for the item to be added after it was brought up by some constituents but said residents would still need to mow their lawns now. “If we were to do this, it wouldn’t happen until 2024, because we’re already well into May. So there’s a little procedural process that has to take place. There’s going to be a public hearing [and] people can come up and express for or against positions.”
The public hearing will be on May 22nd. Hontos says he hopes the movement will make people think about ways to help out the environment locally. “This is more of an education and more environmental thing that can have some benefit for the community as a whole. And there was some discussion by other colleagues that talked about maybe we should take a look at our own city properties and see where we could implement this as well.”
Those participating must continue to control noxious weeds. The proposed change would sunset on June 1st, 2025. Similar policies have been adopted by cities throughout Minnesota, including Annandale, Monticello and recently Waite Park.
Experts say No Mow May shouldn’t be taken literally, and the best way to encourage the local pollinator population is to plant wildflowers and fruit trees.
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