Gallatin County Weed District
Regular Monthly Meeting
May 4, 2006
Board members present: Linda Vrooman, Chair, Jeff Littlefield, Fred Bell, and Commissioner Joe Skinner. Bob Hofman was excused.
Others present were Dennis Hengel (Coordinator), Josh Kellar (RC&D), Joe Nowakowski (RC&D Big Sky WMA), Fred Tubb (Farm Bureau) and Sam Rogers (property owner).
Minutes. The Minutes of the April meeting had been mailed to the Board and were approved.
Claims. The Claims were reviewed and approved.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Criteria for Subdivision Approval by Coordinator. Hengel informed the Board that at the MWCA Annual meeting in January there was discussion regarding whether the approval of the Weed Management Plans for subdivisions needs to go by the Board or whether the Coordinator can approve them. The Law states that the Board must approve, with revisions if necessary, a Weed Management Plan within 10 days of receipt by the Board. There was a lot of discussion with the final result that Hengel was asked to get a draft of requirements.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Public Comment/Other.
Fred Tubb remarked that he has been working to educate the developers of the property he sold so that they are aware of the need for noxious weed management in the area.
Josh Kellar reported that RC&D and the Gallatin County Extension have been awarded the following weed grants by the NWTF totaling $116,000 grant money plus $185,000 matching funds.
§ Tall buttercup/Orange hawkweed
§ Gallatin/Big Sky WMA
§ Lower Jefferson WMA
§ Sixteenmile WMA
He reintroduced Joe Nowakowski as the Coordinator for the Gallatin/Big Sky WMA project. The Gallatin/Big Sky project is expanding to Shedds Bridge this year. Fred Bell complimented Nowakowski on the quality of the work done last year.
2. Commissioner Report. Joe Skinner remarked that one of the Commission's top priorities is the Regional Park. He asked Hengel if he would help Mike Harris get a weed management plan together for the park. Hengel stated that he has met with Harris and they are already working on a program.
Skinner also noted that for the FY'07 fiscal year, the Commission has been asked by various County Departments for a total of 15 new employees, unfortunately the Budget can only accommodate two. Skinner remarked that due to the county budget, the Weed Board needs to look into alternative methods of accomplishing their goals and ways to coordinate with other agencies to get the work accomplished. For example, the Conservation District is starting to focus on noxious weeds and maybe their efforts could be channeled to assist the Weed District with the education program. There was discussion regarding Board involvement and priorities. There was also discussion regarding alternative funding such as raising the subdivision review fee and grants. Fred Bell remarked that at the MWCA Annual meeting he had heard that some counties
receive PILT Funds. Bell asked Skinner if he knew how the PILT program worked. Skinner will look into this.
3. Staff Report. Hengel reviewed his first monthly staff report that was mailed to the Board. He will change the format a little for next month so that Educational Outreach and Requests for Services will be in separate categories. One of the complaints noted in the report was that Cashman's Nursery is selling Leafy spurge. Hengel has not had a chance to investigate. Linda Vrooman volunteered to go and check it out.
4. Bylaws. A draft example of Bylaws had been mailed out to the Board for review. Jeff Littlefield had some corrections and questions regarding some of the items. The sections pertaining to the Law were directly quoted from the County Weed Control Act. There was discussion as to whether or not the Commissioner should be a voting member of the Board or an ex officio member also the subject of term limits was discussed. Jeff Littlefield questioned the issue of Board liability and although it was thought that they were covered under the County Policy it was decided prudent to verify this. Jeff Littlefield was given a copy of the Fair Board Bylaws and will review their bylaws and bring suggestions to the next meeting.
5. Subdivisions. The Spanish Peaks Estates MPUD was discussed. Hengel passed around copies of a letter that he has written to the developers requesting that as each Phase (subdivision) within the MPUD is submitted for final plat the Weed District will be provided with an MOU and also a report of weed control work done for each year. Jeff Littlefield moved to approve the letter as written and send it to the Spanish Peaks Developers, Fred Bell seconded and the motion carried. Discussion came up regarding the review fee. The general feeling of the Board members present is that there is a need to increase review fees to no longer subsidize the program. Sliding fees, cost per lot and MPUD's were discussed. Fred Bell moved to review the fee as it sits right now and move towards implementing a cost per
lot. Jeff Littlefield seconded and the motion carried.
6. Budget FY '07.
a) Vehicle Replacement. Hengel informed the Board that the 1984 Chevy should to be replaced. The Weed District has the money for a newer truck in the Capital Reserves budget. He would like to replace the truck with a ¾ ton vehicle with a flat bed the next budget cycle. Discussion followed.
b) $6200 Grant Application. Hengel requested that the Board fill out the application at the next meeting. There was discussion regarding the source of the grant funds and the timing of the use of the Capital Reserve Fund. Fred Bell moved that the Weed Board purchase a replacement for the 1984 truck from Capital Reserves and the replacement spray unit for the truck from the $6200 Grant. Jeff Littlefield seconded and the motion carried.
c) Personnel Request. Hengel reported that the seasonal enforcement position is funded from a $20,000 transfer of funds from the Road Department budget to the Weed District budget. Hengel suggested the possibility of combining these funds plus subdivision review fees to hire a better qualified individual to conduct seasonal enforcement and subdivision review. The individual must be able to provide professional guidance in all aspects of noxious weed management. There was discussion regarding the clarification of the Road Department Funds being available each year. Hengel will check on that. Fred Bell made a motion that Hengel use the $20,000 Road Department Funds plus the Subdivision Review Fees to hire a person for May through October at $15.00/hour. Jeff Littlefield seconded and the motion
carried.
d) Discussion followed regarding setting up new Weed Management Areas in the County. Hengel stated that he would talk to Josh Kellar regarding the possibility of setting up a WMA in the West Yellowstone area. The Hebgen Lake Planning Committee has expressed interest in assisting with such a project.
7. Weed District Plan of Action: This item was postponed until the next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.30PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Perry, Secretary
| 
