Gallatin County Weed Board
Regular Monthly Meeting
February 2, 2006
Board members present were Fred Bell, Chairman, Bob Hofman, Linda Vrooman, Craig Morgan, Jeff Littlefield and Joe Skinner (Commissioner). Others present were Dennis Hengel (Coordinator), Keith Mainwaring and Kristy Boegli.
Board Appointments – Chair Selection. Linda Vrooman and Jeff Littlefield were reappointed by the County Commissioners to the Weed Board. Morgan nominated and Hofman seconded the selection of Vrooman as Board Chair. Voting was unanimous to approve Vrooman as Chair.
Minutes. The Minutes of the January meeting had been mailed to the Board and were approved as written.
Claims. The Claims were approved as presented. Claims as follows: Howards Heating ($77.00), Culligan ($10.00) and Weed Shop sewer/water bill ($46.44).
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business to discuss.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Weed District Overview: Hengel gave a presentation on the Weed District’s overall goals, issues and challenges. Hengel stated that the Weed District’s issues and challenges are directly related to the Weed District’s stated management goal. The management goal has to be defined in order to determine the issues and challenges. Issues and challenges are considerably different if the goal of the Weed District is to spray weeds along roadsides versus the goal of conducting a coordinated management program of all lands within Gallatin County. As defined by the Weed Board the Mission Statement (i.e., management goal) is for the Weed District to: “Implement a comprehensive program of noxious weed management for the protection of the private
lands, open space, natural resource and agricultural bases of Gallatin County.”
Accomplishment of the management goal is dependent upon population size of the county, demographics of the population (rural vs. suburbia), population growth factors, County budget issues and Weed District staff and budget issues.
Management responsibilities are divided into 4 categories:
1. Administration
2. ROW Spray Work
3. Enforcement
4. Education
Hengel discussed details of each category. For example, in 1996 Hengel conducted five enforcement actions as opposed to 245 enforcement actions in 2005. In 1993 there were 15 subdivisions under review for Weed Management Plans as opposed to 93 subdivisions reviewed in 2005. In addition, because of the population growth, the request of services from the residential/suburbia-based public has grown exponentially. However, even with the Weed Coordinator working 60 to 70 hours per week (May – September) not all requests for services can be fulfilled. The exponential growth has resulted in a situation that current Weed District budget and staffing levels are inadequate to meet the necessary requirements involved to conduct an effective and comprehensive program of noxious weed management on all lands within Gallatin
County.
The current request for services from the public, administrative responsibilities, maintenance of county properties, subdivision review, gravel pit certification program, sprayer rental program, cost share program, grant program, enforcement duties and education requests exceeds a 120 hour workweek. A comprehensive program that would fulfill the Weed District’s Mission Statement and request of services from the public would require one additional fulltime enforcement position and one additional fulltime educational position.
The Weed District cannot meet the stated Mission Statement at current funding levels. Therefore, the current strategy is for the Coordinator position to focus on maintenance of county properties, provide technical assistance to landowners, conduct a subdivision review program, conduct a limited enforcement program and conduct a very limited education program.
Additional issues for the Weed District include:
a. Development of a Special Improvement Agreements (bonding) program for subdivision development. Over 25% of the approved WMP’s are not being implemented. A bonding program would ensure that the weed control and renegotiation would be completed. Additional staff and budget would be necessary to implement the program.
b. Increase in budget to conduct on-the-ground treatment of noxious weed infestations. There are numerous landowners in noncompliance of the weed law. $50,000+ would be required to conduct an effective program of on-the-ground treatment of those individuals in violation of the weed law.
c. Construction of a new Weed Office/Shop complex. The current Weed Shop is located on property that will be turned back to the Fairgrounds. The proposal is to construct a new office/shop complex on Baxter Lane where the Road Department is being located. $340,000+ would be required to construct a new shop/office complex.
d. Responsibility for weed management within municipalities. Currently, the weed law states and the Department of Agriculture has determined that active management of noxious weeds within municipalities is the responsibility of Weed Districts. The Weed District would require additional funds ($250,000+?) to manage noxious weeds within Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, and West Yellowstone
2. Public Comment/Other: Kristy Boegli gave a presentation on developing an educational program that involves youth groups. Boegli’s idea would be for the Weed District to establish a bounty for Spotted Knapweed. This bounty would garner public attention on the noxious weed issue and would also enable youth groups to raise money for their groups. Boegli estimated that at 2 cents a pound a group could raise $300/acre of knapweed pulled. Vrooman said that she would work with Boegli to investigate the possibility of enacting a bounty program. The determining factor is budget. Although an excellent awareness proposal, currently, the Weed District does not have funds available to implement a bounty program.
3. Subdivision Reviews: Hengel reviewed and approved the following Subdivision WMP’s and MOU’s in January:
- Foster Minor MOU - Walma Minor MOU
- Ross Ck Lot 19A-1 MOU - Flandres Ck Major MOU
- Kraft Minot WMP - Houdashelt Minot WMP
- Griffith Minor WMP - Jansma Minor WMP
- Perin Minor WMP - Robinson Minor WMP
- Hofman Minor WMP - VanDyken Minor WMP
- Lyden Major WMP - Hawthorne Minor WMP
Discussion involved the effectiveness of the review process. Currently, there is no Special Improvements Agreement (i.e., bonding process) for those subdivisions that do not comply with their WMP. Monitoring of subdivision development would require increased staffing under any type of bonding process.
4. Meetings/Seminars:
a. Jan 10-12: The annual MWCA meeting was held in Great Falls. An item of discussion at the meeting concerned the subdivision review process. If WMP’s are approved by a Weed Board representative then criteria needs to be developed that lists guidelines for approval or disapproval.
b. Jan 15: Rooper, of Spanish Peaks development, failed to submit the draft WMP by January 15th as proposed.
c. Jan 16: Falcon Murty met with Hengel to discuss WMP for Hawthorne subdivision.
d. Jan 27: Campbell, with DNRC, discussed developing and filing WMP’s with the Weed District for lessees with weed issues.
e. Jan 27: Keinholz, with Bear Creek HOA, mailed educational brochures.
f. Jan 31: Sievert no show at appointment to discuss his WMP for subdivision approval.
g. Jan 31: Hilsendegner discussed complaint within subdivision. Hengel inspected property. Complaint #1 did not involve noxious weeds (weeds identified as Lambsquarter and Redroot Pigweed). Complaint #2 involved possible Canada thistle (CT) on septic system. Unable to determine if CT was a problem due to snow cover.
h. Feb 01: Continuing complaint regarding Musk thistle infestation on property of dairy farm near Harper Puckett Road and Baxter Lane. Infestation mowed last year after contact from Weed District. Need continued follow-up this field season.
i. Feb 07: MWCA Strategic Planning subcommittee to meet at AgCenter.
j. Feb 07: Meeting with Lynn Burton to discuss developing WMP for recreational area (rock climbing) towards Bozeman Pass.
k. Feb 08: Meeting with County Planning to discuss WMP issues, Findings of Fact process and noxious weed covenants.
l. Feb 09: Meeting in Helena with Education and Awareness Committee to discuss growth issues. Hengel one of presenters.
- Feb 10-12: Outdoor Show at MSU Field House. Board members selected times and dates to attend weed booth.
- Feb 17-20: Wild West WinterFest to be held at Fairgrounds. Weed District to set up booth.
- March 3-5: Home and Garden Show at Ice Gardens. Vrooman to find cost.
5. Budget FY 07: Hengel discussed upcoming budget issues.
§ Personnel: To increase effectiveness of Weed District program additional staff is required. A fulltime enforcement position and a fulltime education position would enable the Weed District to meet goals, challenges, and management issues. The Weed District would go from a reactive situation to a proactive situation. Human Resources evaluated each position at $37,000 each.
§ Weed Office/Shop complex: Requests to the Capital Improvements Committee are due March 1st. Request forms will be distributed to departments February 15th. Last year the Weed District budget request was $340,000. Construction costs have risen since last year.
§ Enforcement compliance: Hengel estimated that there is approximately $50,000 worth of enforcement cost required if the Weed District is to conduct on-the-ground control measures of individuals in noncompliance with the weed law.
6. Enforcement 2006. Hengel gave an overview of possible enforcement actions for the upcoming field season. Major compliance efforts include the following:
- Thorton (Thorpe Road) William Sebena (Three Forks)
- Mt. Ellis Academy Harry Piper (Bozeman Pass)
- Peaks View Subdivison (Gateway) Roadarmel (Three Forks)
- West Yellowstone area Poncelot (Belgrade)
According to Montana state law, sellers of property are required to inform buyers of any noxious weed infestations on the property that is being sold. Bell discussed developing a process of recording with the Clerk and Recorders Office any violations of the weed law. This way, during a title search, potential buyers of property would discover if there are noxious weeds on the property. Hengel has discussed this with the Clerk and Recorders Office. The current cost to record any information with the office is $6 per page.
There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 3.15PM. The next meeting will be on March 2nd.
Respectfully submitted,
Dennis Hengel, Coordinator
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