- April 19, 2024
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The Volusia County Council tabled its vote Thursday to enforce stricter fertilizer rules, after reaching a 3-3 tie.
BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER
Volusia County Council members brought debate on the strictness of the county’s fertilizer rules to a halt Thursday.
In an effort to protect Volusia’s waterways from the chemicals found in everyday fertilizers, the board discussed ways to regulate the use of these substances. But with only six council members present, the vote was split between using the state model and using the strictest possible law.
County Chairman Jason Davis was in favor of starting with the state model, because he said the board could only begin to solve the fertilizer issue with a strong foundation.
“Using the state model is a good start,” Davis said. “We can build from there. If we want to get stricter on it, then we can get stricter on it. This is only the tip of the iceberg, this fertilizer ordinance. We have other things we are trying to work on to increase the quality of the water.”
Doug Daniels, District 4 representative, was in favor of imposing regulations much stricter than the state model, which could include banning the use of fertilizers during the summer season.
“The model ordinance was drafted by industry lobbyists back before they were trying to improve the health of lagoons and the St. John’s River,” Daniels said. “Now the stricter restrictions are necessary to the ordinance.”
In order to prevent a deadlock, the council voted to table the discussion until Mar. 6, when the seventh council member, Joyce Cusak, would be in back in attendance.
