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| Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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City to help pay for weed control
Published March 25, 2009
The Scottsboro City Council unanimously agreed to do its part financially in a local group's effort to control aquatic weeds on Roseberry Creek.
With certain stipulations, the council voted Monday to provide the Roseberry Rescue Group with $42,500 or 25 percent of the total cost of approximately $170,000 to spray 900 acres of Roseberry Creek with the chemical Fluridone by a company called Aqua Services.
Spokesperson Lowell Bivens said the Roseberry group is seeking 75 percent of the total cost from the Scottsboro City Council, Jackson County Commission and the county's Legislative Delegation.
Each group is being asked to contribute $42,500 for the cause. Bivens added that the Roseberry group, made up of over 200 property owners, will also contribute $42,500.
"This is a time sensitive issue," Bivens told council members Monday before their vote. "We need to move forward and begin spraying by mid-April."
Bivens added that not spraying by mid-April could result in the weeds being much worse by next year.
"We believe if we don't do anything, it could cost up to $300,000 next year," he said.
The council agreed to contribute the money as long as it gets a performance guarantee from Aqua Services and also a commitment from the other groups.
"We don't want one group to back out at the last minute," said Councilman Keith Smith.
Bivens said the council's commitment was the first the Roseberry group had. Earlier Monday, the county commission delayed action to find out its financial status. The commission doesn't meet again in regular session until April 13.
Bivens said the group will ask the Legislative Delegation for funding this week.
The Roseberry Rescue Group, a non-profit organization, was formed at the time TVA announced its decision last November to stop its spraying program in residential areas on Lake Guntersville.
In December, following a meeting with local elected officials, TVA said it would reconsider its decision.
"We still haven't heard anything from TVA," said Scottsboro Mayor Melton Potter.
Bivens said the Roseberry group decided to take it on themselves to find a solution, adding that TVA's spraying program has been insufficient the last three years anyway.
The Roseberry group has said a similar spraying of Fluridone in Guntersville has lasted for several years.
"The money will be well spent if it lasts three to four years," said Smith. "It will also be better than TVA turning it over to everybody to do their own thing."
Bivens said controlling the weeds is a benefit for all citizens, not to mention tourism for Scottsboro and Jackson County.
"We believe very strongly this chemical will work," he said.
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