MILT THOMAS

The County Commission voted unanimously in favor a fertilizer ordinance that exceeds the state’s model ordinance recommendations. The marathon Commission session ended minutes ago after hours of arguments for and against, not the ordinance itself, but the landscaper exemption originally proposed at the last County Commission meeting in July. In the end, the Commission heeded popular sentiment to take immediate action on the Indian River Lagoon pollution problem.

In addition to the state’s model fertilizer ordinance, the Commission approved banning phosphorus unless the lawn is tested for a phosphorus deficiency. Also, 50% slow release fertilizer is required regardless of whether the Best Practices class is taken. The fertilizer ban will be enforced during the four months of summer rainy season (June, July, August, September), or at any time after a heavy rain defined as two inches or more, which is part of the state’s model ordinance.  The Commission also approved including Indian River County in the state’s Central region as defined in the model ordinance, which calls for less fertilizer than the South Florida region.  Grass clippings must be kept on site or disposed of and any clippings in the street are subject to code enforcement citation. The fine for violating this fertilizer ordinance is $500 a day, although a warning would probably be issued first.

All but one of the ordinance points were approved unanimously by the Commission.