Hobart Park Board president Maria Galka said at the board’s Feb. 12 meeting she hopes the city’s environmental resource coordinator can work with resident Sandy O’Brien to control invasive plant species in city parks.
Galka made the comment after the board received a report from the resource coordinator, Kelly Goodpaster, in which she said an invasive species management plan devised by O’Brien was geared toward private land, not public parks, expensive and unnecessary at this time.
Goodpaster, who was not at Monday’s Park Board meeting, stated in the memo that should the board want to control the invasive plants she would recommend they hire a reputable company with the necessary permits and insurance.
She named three companies that she said are capable of plant management.
But O’Brien, who owns an ecological management services firm, offered to continue to do the work for free, as she has done for the city for about 20 years.
“This is my profession. I’m so much more qualified than anyone who would be hired,” said O’Brien, who added she has invasive species and herbicide licenses.
Galka said while she agrees with Goodpaster that city parks aren’t private land, she had hoped Goodpaster would look at the plan and see what the park board could implement.
“She didn’t disregard Sandy’s ideas,” Galka said of Goodpaster. “My hope is that they can collaborate on what’s most important (in the plan),” she said.
She asked O’Brien to work with Goodpaster, if Goodpaster reaches out to her.
Parks Superintendent John Mitchell said Goodpaster has the invasive species under control. He said the worst problem is along the lakefront behind the former Bright Spot restaurant.
“We have to be careful what we do and don’t spray,” Mitchell said.
O’Brien has been controlling invasive species in several of the city’s parks through controlled burns and other means. She has been especially vocal about maintaining an area of Fred Rose Lakefront Park, pointing out there there are a number of rare native plants there that need to be protected.
But board member Charlotte Sills said they are public parks.
“We’re not here to specify certain areas for certain things,” Sills said.
Councilman Josh Huddlestun, D-2nd, who sits on the park board, asked if any other local communities do invasive species management.
Jennifer Woronecki-Ellis, a resident and president of the Woodland-Savanna Land Conservancy, said she believes Valparaiso has a native restorationist on staff.
“Invasive species are a very serious problem. They can affect water quality and health,” she said.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
