Bethel milfoil put on hold

By CHRIS CONROY

BETHEL — Not willing to go full steam ahead with chemical treatment of milfoil, the Bethel Town Board has decided to wait and see just how bad the weeds get this summer.

At its March 14 meeting, the board heard a report from B.J. Gettle regarding the most recent information she has gathered about the nuisance plant Eurasian Milfoil. Gettle finally made contact with Cornell professor Bob Johnson, an expert in biological controls of the weed, specifically the use of milfoil weevils and moths.

According to Gettle, Johnson and others recommended that the town track the growth of the milfoil in White Lake and Kauneonga Lake over the course of the summer. This, she said, will give the town a much better idea of exactly what kind of control measures it will have to take next year.

During the summer, more information on all forms of milfoil control will be explored.

At the meeting the board also:

• Held a moment of silence in honor of Jules Szabo.
• Announced that the town-wide cleanup will take place on May 4.
• Agreed to assist Sullivan County in finding a suitable location within the town for a fire tower and emergency training center.
• Resolved to send a number of local businesses and organizations letters of commendation because of their efforts to beautify the town.