NORWICH – The city is taking steps in removing the troublesome waterweed milfoil that has infested Chenango Lake over the years.

The common council passed a resolution permitting City of Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano to sign an agreement with The Pond and Lake Connection, an outside firm, to remove milfoil from the lake through use of a chemical herbicide, pending permission from the New York State Department of Conservation to use the weed killer. The procedure comes at an estimated cost of $12,550.

Water milfoil has been a hinderance at the lake and interfered with water supply for several years. Efforts to mechanically remove the weed were made two decades ago, but that proved only a temporary fix and didn’t completely rid the lake of the botanical nuisance.