LANSING (WWJ) - City officials in the state capital have made their stance on No Mow May perfectly clear after issuing close to 1,500 tickets to property owners over the last month -- mow your lawn or pay.
The grass-roots initiative, which calls on residents to delay mowing their yards during the month of May, began as a way to help out pollinating bugs, like bees, butterflies and more, feast on dandelions and other naturally-growing buds and grasses they need to survive as they emerge after a scarce winter.
"The start of the growing season is a critical time for hungry, newly emerged native bees," No Mow May supporter Bee City USA, writes. "Floral resources may be hard to find, especially in urban and suburban landscapes. By allowing it to grow longer, and letting flowers bloom, your lawn can provide nectar and pollen to help your bee neighbors thrive."
Metro Detroit cities like Ferndale, Royal Oak, Ann Arbor and Hazel Park have all embraced the initiative, but Lansing says property owners must maintain their lawns.
So far, the city has issued 1,499 notices over long grass and has stuck to its policies regarding how long grass can grow.
"In the mayor's office we hear many, many more complaints about overgrown grass and weeds than we do about not enforcing in the month of May," Bean said in an email to the Lansing State Journal.
He said hundreds of complaints have flooded their office over neglected yards, which is way more than the dozen or so complaints made on the city not participating in No Mo May.
Bean said in order for officials to adopt No Mow May, the City Council would have to vote on suspending the city's ordnance and that decision is not debated publicly.
According to residents who have been issued tickets over their yards, they are facing a a $265 fee, with other fines ranging from $75 to $300 for each repeat offense
On the other side of the fence, the East Lansing City Council voted to suspend their ordnance to allow residents to leave their lawn alone for the month of May, but it goes back into full effect on June 1.
"In early spring, pollinator food — nectar and pollen — can be in short supply within urban and suburban landscapes. By allowing lawns to grow longer, it gives a chance for the plants sometimes referred to as weeds (like dandelions and clover) to flower," they write.
If residents don't wish to participate, the city encouraged them to only mow sections of their lawn, do without herbicides or plant a garden of native, pollinator-friendly plants.
