EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – “I spent a lot of money on a leaf blower and now the city is considering telling me I can’t use it anymore.” Those were the words uttered by East Grand Rapids resident Jim Benedict who showed up at a local city commission meeting to speak his mind about their proposed ban on gas leaf blowers in his community.

Citing noise, pollution and climate change issues, the City of East Grand Rapids, which is about ten minutes southeast of Grand Rapids in Kent County, had released a September 27th Memorandum from City Manager Shea Charles that requested action by the City Commission to hold a work session to provide feedback on potential leaf blower regulations.

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The memo said, “At the previous meeting City Commission requested staff to develop regulations regarding leaf blowers within the community.” The memo included a legal analysis by City Attorney John Huff for the City Commission where Mr. Huff found the City could enact regulations and provides several points for City Commission consideration.

On Monday, October 2nd, the leaf blowing issue was on the agenda for their regular commission meeting. City commissioners listened to public comment on the issue as the unblown leaves started to fall from the city’s trees and move about the city. Being considered by the commissioners is a leaf blowing ban, a regulation of hours that community members can use their leaf blowers, or a possible buyback or incentive program.

The agenda stated that Commissioner Arendshorst would like to see an ordinance banning gas powered leaf blowers due to emissions and noise pollution – saying that the leaf blowers are as “loud as a jet plane.” Commissioner Hamrick echoed Commissioner Arendshorst’s position supporting restrictions on gas leaf blowers.

Both residents and commercial landscaping workers showed up to voice their opinions at the meeting including 94-year-old community resident Armon Robinson who would not be able to rake his leaves and doesn’t want the city to stop his landscaping company from using the blowers. He said at the meeting, “I’ve got a sizable yard. Front and backyard, and you’re going to say they (landscapers) have to go and quit. Then I can’t get the leaves up.”

In addition to Benedict, 12 others spoke up to oppose the ban and one spoke in support of it. One resident who spoke at public comment wondered where the bans would stop. He said, “Once we mandate electric blowers, what’s the next step? The next step is the lawn mower. And then the next step is the car. And before we know it, only the elites can afford the electric car. And only the elites live in East Grand Rapids. We’ve created economic apartheid.”

Another resident said that the market should lead any change, saying that if the younger crowd is concerned about pollution and climate change, they can go out and buy electric leaf blowers. He added, “I don’t think legislating that we all have to get rid of them is the right way to go.”

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The Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association also showed up at the meeting and their representative said, “We share in the goal of reduced carbon emissions from gas-powered leaf blowers. At this point, the commercial-grade battery-powered equipment has significant performance issues and cost issues. We are asking for a time for the commercial market to develop an efficient and cost-effective tools.”

According to the city, there are 31 licensed landscaping companies that operate within the city limits and another one of those landscaper told the commissioners, “Our industry does not have an alternative to a gas-powered leaf blower that even comes close to being a replacement in an electric fashion.”

According to an industry representative who talked with the LA Times, a three-person landscaping crew would need to carry 30 to 40 fully charged batteries to power its equipment during a full day’s work.

The lone supporter of the ban on gas leaf blowers talked about the pollution that goes into the air, saying, “and it all adds up eventually.”

Sierra Club chapter director Samantha Dynowski says about gas leaf blowers, “They’re environmental impact is pretty high. They’re emitters, and their emissions are disproportionate to their small size.”

In the city’s memorandum, it says that enforcement for a ban or any regulations would likely fall to the health and safety department, although the city admits that there may be a staffing issue regarding the enforcement.

Attorney John Huff’s email to the city cites the loudness and the lack of pollution controls as issues for gas leaf blowers. He writes, “The movement to do something about gas powered blowers is found all across the country. While only seven states have adopted regulations, a number of communities even in states without state regulations have adopted local regulations. These regulations range from modest restrictions to outright bans. We believe the City has authority to regulate gas leaf blowers. Several other Michigan municipalities have already done so and the State has not preempted regulation of gas leave blowers.’’

Huff admits in his email that one of the difficult issues in adopting regulations is presented by commercial lawn care operators. Huff says, “They probably use the most powerful gas blowers, they use them more than anyone else, but they also have the most difficult time changing to new technology. While great strides have been made in personal use electric leaf blowers, the market is lagging behind in developing replacement equipment that is sturdy enough for commercial operators. Battery technology is not yet widely available for commercial grade equipment either and it is expensive to stockpile batteries just to get through a single day.”

Huff continues, “Michigan is clearly not in the forefront of this battle. The number of Michigan communities attacking this issue is limited and most are taking a modest approach such as limiting hours of operation. Even though Ann Arbor enacted a downtown ban, they have not adopted any neighborhood regulations. That does not mean that East Grand Rapids cannot or should not act, but it does mean that we will not have a lot of other municipalities keeping us company, at least at this time.”

The limited number of cities that have imposed bans or regulations on leaf blowers are part of a decentralized national movement with only about 100 local governments jumping on board. The movement seems to have gained a little bit of momentum at the start of the pandemic when people were working from home and noticed the loud noises coming from outside of their windows.

Admitting that a leaf blower ban is not likely anytime in the near future, Deputy City Manager Doug Lafave said that it was still an idea “worth discussing.” He went on to say, “This is just a discussion this evening there is no action on any item. Just sort of have the commission have open dialogue and hear from the general public.”

WOOD-TV posted part of the commissioner’s meeting on their website which you can watch here.