MOUNT VERNON — During a meeting with County Commissioners Teresa Bemiller and Bill Pursel on Tuesday morning, local farmer Eric Helt broached the idea of creating a Council on Local Climate Change Action.
Helt said the lack of a viable plan from the state or federal government to deal with climate change is the impetus behind developing a countywide plan to deal with it locally.
Representatives from the city, villages, townships and county would sit on the council as well as representatives from environmental agencies such as soil and water, land trusts, and natural resources. The council’s goal would be to develop recommendations for local climate change abatement.
Areas the council would explore include soil conservation practices, renewable energy, and water quality, among others.
“Soil conservation and carbon sequestration would be areas high on my list,” Helt told the commissioners.
Noting the damage road salt does to waterways, he added, “I think that is something we could address.”
Helt said the herbicides glyphosate and Roundup® are a much bigger issue.
“I’m a biological farmer. When you put an herbicide on the soil, then you are in the chemical business,” he said. “I think this is something we can do something about.”
As to how receptive local farmers are to discontinuing herbicides and changing their agricultural practices, Helt said, “Things are changing very fast. I think what we need is some good examples of it.”
Noting he did not want to exclude agencies or organizations that use nonorganic methods, Helt said, “I think there’s lots of room for discussion and proposals. It just takes someone to get out in front.”
Bemiller said the commissioners will reach out to agencies such as OSU Extension, Farm Bureau, and Knox Soil & Water Conservation District about the idea of a climate change council. Pursel also asked for any available research on the idea.
