ROSEVILLE, Mich. (WXYZ) — On Wednesday, April 8, the City of Roseville posted to Facebook to clear up questions. After reaching out to the governor’s office it found lawn cutting was allowed, so it sent out word: maintain your lawn on your own or with a contractor as city ordinance requires, despite the COVID-19 crisis.
A day later the rules changed. Thursday the governor issued a new order saying lawn service is not essential.
Roseville’s City Manager Scott Adkins disagrees.
“We’re concerned about grass growing in excess to where we have harborage of rats and mice. We know spring is upon us and soon we will have breeding of mosquitoes. So it is a safety issue,” said Adkins.
Warren Mayor James Fouts says his city will still enforce ordinances for cutting lawns if people have the ability.
“Most people should be able to do their lawn and if they don’t they could get a ticket. However we are flexible when it comes to the issue we are having, that is the coronavirus,” said Fouts.
In the meantime, landscaping companies like Ben’s Property Services in Livingston County ask, why can’t we just work while practicing social distancing?
“One guy is running a mower and someone else is running a blower or weed whip. You are not on the mower together,” said Ben Pfister.
And lawn is not the only issue up for debate. Senator Peter Lucido asks why the entire state is seeing more restrictions, when the entire state is not equally impacted by COVID-19? He says for the overall economy, perhaps we should have regional policies so so many businesses aren’t impacted.
“Too many people are saying Pete, another weekend and I am out. I am going to be done,” said Sen. Lucido.
Senator Lucido says people are calling on the legislator to “mow” down the governor’s orders on businesses such as lawn service companies. He says the legislature needs a 2/3 majority to overrule a governor’s emergency orders and that is next to impossible right now.
You can here from the governor on her order in the complete interview below:
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