WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Recent heavy rainfall has translated to an increase in persistent weeds in public spaces, and West Lafayette officials are looking to citizens for help.
In an email to West Lafayette residents sent Friday, West Lafayette's Street and Sanitation Department asked its residents to consider pulling or spraying weeds along curbs, sidewalks and driveways.
West Lafayette street commissioner Jeremy Stinson said while the ask may seem out of the blue, the need for citizens' help in keeping sidewalks clean is akin to the winter season's need for sidewalk shoveling.
Stinson said four street and sanitation workers are responsible for road patching, mowing right of ways, cleaning up storm debris and whatever else is deemed necessary to keep streets safe for cars and pedestrians. Having residents assist in keeping the sidewalks in front of their homes cleared makes city workers' jobs a bit easier.
"With the rain we have had lately, there has been an influx of weed pressure on some sidewalks and curbs throughout the neighborhoods," Stinson said. "Weeds in sidewalks and along the curbs can become a walking hazard if they grow bigger and start fanning out, but also the aesthetics of a clean sidewalk make our neighborhoods visually appealing. If you can address those weeds while they're still small, it's easier to maintain than when they're 6 inches tall."
In the event that a public sidewalk would grow weeds half a foot tall, Stinson said the city would step in and take care of it, but having West Lafayette citizens chip in is a big lift off those workers' daily duties.
"During the snowy season, we ask homeowners to shovel their sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours. I couldn't imagine the manpower it would take if we had to shovel off every sidewalk in the city," Stinson said. "This ask is in correlation with that snow removal ask. Sure, we could do it if need be, but it is a tremendous help if citizens can just assist in maintaining their sidewalks."
In the email sent to West Lafayette residents, Stinson said he tried to offer low- to no-cost solutions to combat sidewalk weeds. Environmentally safe weed killers, Stinson suggests, are dish soap mixed with vinegar or water, salt and water, boiling water or simply weeding by hand.
"It was a good piece of literature to get out, just to let citizens know we are here to help," Stinson said. "This type of thing is obviously something that required an amount of manpower, and we appreciate our citizens and all the help they give us throughout the year. Overall, it helps us be efficient and keep the city clean."
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal and Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ellison_writes.
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