Ashland Rethinks Law After Woman Mows Down Garden in Protest (WI)

JSOnline via AP ^ | June 18, 2006 | Staff Writer from AP

[Diana in Wisconsin]

ASHLAND, WI (AP) -- Pat Morris' garden is mowed but not forgotten.

Morris took blades to her garden after a city inspector sent her a letter saying the lawn had grown longer than 10 inches, violating city rules, and had to be cut.

Morris then explained the lawn was a garden, not a weed patch, and the city gave her an option of applying for a natural lawn permit for $25.

She refused, contending she shouldn't have to pay to grow a garden, and instead mowed the garden and put the city's letter on display in her front yard.

"Suggesting that the garden needed to be mowed was inappropriate and kind of heavy-handed," Councilor Rick Dowd said when the City Council met in committee last week.

Dowd said he had walked past Morris' home for years and admired the garden.

"A letter went out, and that was a mistake," agreed Brea Lemke, city zoning administration.

She said her staff must do a better job of telling neglected lawns from gardens, although part of the problem was that Morris' plants were just starting to grow, making them resemble weeds.

Dowd said city officials should recognize gardens as a legitimate type of landscaping for lawn areas.

Council members discussed drafting such a provision, which would make gardens legal lawns without requiring a permit, and Interim City Administrator Brian Knapp said he will investigate the matter.

[The Westerner]

I wrote a letter to my city water district when I moved here that protested the use of "penalties" when you go over a baseline of water usage. The city eventually changed the wording. What bothers me is that some Nazi might turn me in for watering the dirt off the cement. Some cities prohibit washing down the pavement. The whole thing stems from the idea that people are not wise enough to monitor the usage of natural resources. So the busybodies in local politics use punishments to make stupid citizens behave correctly. Just one more step toward totalitarianism.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Madame Dufarge]

A Councilman said he had admired her garden for years but the article says that it was just beginning to grow.

It was probably a wildflower garden that reseeds itself.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this Midwest outdoors and rural issues list, please FRmail me.

Everyone should have a natural lawn permit. Then no one can complain about weeds.

[SunkenCiv]

Bureaucrats should be subject to mandatory drug testing.

[caver]

"Want to live in a small town? Expect that small people will be running it."

Isn't that the truth? Every town or city has those people that think they can tell everyone else what to do.

[absolootezer0]

Isn't that the truth? Every town or city has those people that think they can tell everyone else what to do.

no, its more like every town has a busybody that can't mind their business. cops around my town don't much care about the lawn, immobile cars, junk in yards type of stuff, but there's this little old man that retired a few years ago and aparently has taken it upon himself to clean up the town. he spends all day walking around town with his camera, taking pictures of any violation he can find, and delivers them to the police station every week or so.

[caver]

He sounds like a real joy! The old man needs a hobby.

[absolootezer0]

he HAS a hobby, that's the problem :) what he needs is one that doesn't include repoting me everytime i switch projects (there's only so much room in the garage to work on stuff)