Gallatin County Weed Board
Regular Monthly Meeting
August 4, 2005
Board members present were Fred Bell, Chairman, Bob Hofman and Jeff Littlefield. Craig Morgan, Linda Vrooman and John Vincent were excused. Others present were Jim and Erma Kurk, Sam Rogers, Keith Mainwaring, Catherine Koenen and Brent Miller (Gaston Engineering), Karla Mertens-Morse (Enforcement Technician), and Dennis Hengel, Coordinator.
Minutes. The Minutes had been mailed to the Board and were approved.
Claims. The Claims were reviewed and approved.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
1. Complaints. Hengel introduced Karla Mertens-Morse who is our Enforcement Technician for the remainder of the field season. Mertens-Morse performs the initial research on the complaints we receive and Hengel follows up with the personal contact with the respondent. Hengel passed out copies of the Property Inspection and Compliance Notice and also the Notice of Non-Compliance. A list of property owners that have been notified of weed complaints against them was passed around. Hengel discussed the process and status of some of the major violations. Hengel conducted an on-site inspection with Hugo Schmidt in the Bear Canyon area. Hengel noted that the Forest Service property adjacent to Schmidt’s also has a major Spotted knapweed infestation. The old gravel
pit east of the Bear Canyon interchange (north side of highway) is owned by Harry Piper and also has a major Spotted knapweed infestation. Hengel will contact Piper and the Forest Service regarding the infestations in the following weeks. Two other respondents, who were originally on the Landowner Maintenance program, have had contracts terminated as they have not held to the terms of the program.
2. Weed Notices. Hengel passed around a list of people that had been contacted in the Beckman Flats area and also a copy of the reminder letter that was sent. Mertens-Morse gave a presentation on the computer programs she is working with, ArcExplorer and Web Tax. Hengel brought up questions regarding the current State Law. He would like to revamp the program at the State level. Mainwaring noted that there are local Representatives that would be supportive. The topic of subdivision bonding requirements was brought up again. Hengel would like to impose a fine, a Bond or SID's.
3. Public Comment/Other.
Ø Erma Kurk discussed some issues regarding weed problems along the Bozeman Trail and Bear Canyon areas. She has spoken with Commissioner Joe Skinner and read a letter she has written to the Commissioners, outlining the problem and asking for support for the Weed District. Fred Bell thanked Kurk for her support. Fred Tubb and Keith Mainwaring requested a copy of the letter.
Ø Keith Mainwaring stated that he feels the Weed Law needs changing. He has spoken with local Representatives and they have been very supportive. Mainwaring is willing to work with lawmakers with a goal of getting changes made to the State Weed Law. Mainwaring also felt that the South Dakota Weed Law is very well written and will get the Weed District a copy to review.
4. Subdivision Reviews. There have been eight (8) WMP's presented, four (4) MOU's and two (2) MDOT Disturbance notifications. Two WMP's were incomplete and representatives from Gaston engineering were present to answer questions.
Ø Diamond Estates is a large residential development between Durston and Oak. Hengel was not comfortable with the estimate given for chemical control and the revegetation on the fallow farmland was not addressed. A request was made for the developer to provide a more realistic cost evaluation and to address the control of weeds on undeveloped sections when no longer being farmed. The cooperator has elected to do weed control on the property himself.
Ø Aspen Groves. The original WMP was submitted in February 2005. A weed inventory was supplied in July 2005. Hengel requested the proof of weed control completed and more appropriate costs. He reviewed a complete WMP with the Gaston Engineers and informed them that once the revisions had been presented he would approve the Plans.
Ø Other Weed Management Plans presented were:
· River Rock NW – Western Conservation has been contracted for weed control
· Ross Creek Lot Split – this is a clean piece of property
· Border Commons at Four Corners – good weed plan and control work being done
· Middle Creek Farms – well managed property
· Howell Minor – Small Lot split with no problems
· Green Thumb Farms – Formerly a nursery, clean property.
Memoranda' of Understanding presented were:
· Legends at Bridger Creek
· Griffith Minor
· Galactic Park
· Holland Minor
MDOT Disturbance Notifications were for the Pedestrian Tunnel at Gallatin Gateway and Guard Rail Work NE of Bozeman.
Hengel recommended to the Board that they approve all presentations with the exception of Diamond Estates and Aspen Groves. Bob Hofman so moved, Jeff Littlefield seconded and the motion carried.
5. Meetings/Seminars/Field Inspections. Hengel gave a brief overview of meetings that he has attended. He also discussed some educational opportunities missed because of the staffing restrictions. He felt this reinforces the need for an education person.
Jeff Littlefield informed the Board that he had received a letter from Human Resources requesting that the Board complete a performance evaluation for Hengel. The Board decided to do this at the September meeting.
Hengel recommended that the option “done by self” in the Weed Management and Revegetation Plan be eliminated.
The Big Sky WMA program has hired a coordinator and so far the program has contacted over 50 people and approximately 100 acres of weeds has been treated.
There were some questions and answers regarding chemicals and their effectiveness.
Hengel informed the Board that he has hired another enforcement person for the next 3 weeks in order to get the workload caught up in the upper part of the County and get some problem areas in West Yellowstone addressed.
The meeting adjourned at 3.10PM. The next meeting will be on September 1, 2005.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Perry
Secretary
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