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SALEM -- The parks commission approved a new Eagle Scout project proposal at its July meeting.
The project, proposed by Lainey Haas, would see the construction of bee hotels in the pollinator garden. Haas explained the hotels provide nesting ground for solitary bee species. Haas explained that solitary bee species, such as carpenter and mason bees do not operate in the traditional hive system that most people associate with bees, and that solitary bee species are massively more efficient pollinators than the more commonly known honeybees.
"They're actually 150 times more effective at pollinating than normal honeybees, so it would really help the garden become vibrant and lush," said Haas.
Haas said that each year's newly hatched bees would leave hotels in spring after which they'd need cleaned, noting that this would only need to be done once per year. Haas said she was planning to design the hotels to make this cleaning as easy as possible, and potential able to be done completely with a blast of compressed air.
Haas also said that in addition to their functionality as nesting grounds she felt the hotels would add the overall aesthetic beauty of the pollinator garden, and that she would likely install a plaque on the hotel explaining what the hotels were and their purpose to the public.
"We are a 'Bee City,' and its always great when we have Eagle Scouts willing to come into our parks and do their work," said Parks Commission President John Panezott.
Haas said that she had identified three potential locations for the hotels, and planned to build either
two small hotels, or one large unit. Haas said that the location for the motel would need to face east as the eastward rising of the sun wakes the bees each day. Parks Director Shane Franks said he, Parks Foreman Jim Grimm and Haas could work together to determine the best location for the hotels. Parks Commission Vice-President Lucile Karnofel and Commission Member Lori Colian said they were in favor of two smaller hotels rather than one large one.
Karnofel asked if any protection was necessary for staff when conducting the annual cleaning, and Haas explained that since the cleaning is done after the bees leave each year there should be no risk to park staff. Haas also said that while she wanted to conduct further research covering the primary entrance and exits prior to cleaning would encourage any stragglers to leave prior to cleaning.
Haas also said that she was still doing additional research on construction materials for the hotels, but that it would need to be made of a "natural wood," with Grimm suggesting poplar wood, noting "as long as poplar doesn't hit the ground it won't rot."
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the project
"Good luck and thank you for choosing our parks department for your wonderful project," said Karnofel.
Other business approved included permission to submit applications to the Salem Community Foundation for $14,685 from the Ralph J. Smith Memorial Fund, and Kenneth U. and Ruth H. Wirtz Memorial Funds for the purchase and installation of 18 new cameras at Waterworth Memorial Park and Centennial Park as part of the departments camera system update; and $31,234 from the Smith Fund for the purchase of two Wright ZXT72 mowers from Hilltop Lawn and Garden as the department's current mowers, with Franks noting the department's current mowers were "way past their expected use."
The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of personnel matters with no action to follow.
The parks commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Aug. 23.
mahart@mojonews.com