Gallatin County Weed District
Regular Monthly Meeting
June 05, 2008
Board members present were Jeff Littlefield (Chair), Bob Urich, Bob Hofman, Craig Morgan and Fred Bell. Commissioner Skinner was excused. Others present were Keith Mainwaring (Small acreage landowner), Dennis Hengel (Coordinator), John Ansley (Education/Enforcement Coordinator), Michael Jones (Big Sky Education Coordinator), Patrick Lawrence (GYCC Gravel Pit Inspector) and Rosemary Perry (Secretary).
Minutes. The Minutes of the May Meeting had been mailed to the Board and were approved as read.
Claims. The Board reviewed the Claims as presented in the Monthly Report.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Second review of Cost Share – Grazing. Portions of the Minutes from previous meetings had been mailed to the Board so they could review previous discussion on this topic. We have not had any applications for grazing cost share yet. After discussion there was a general consensus that if grazing was part of a comprehensive weed management plan and appropriate for the area, then it should be included in the cost share. Craig Morgan moved to include grazing as part of the cost share program with the same guidelines as herbicide and biological control with a $250 cap. Bob Hofman seconded and the motion carried. Bob Urich expressed concern regarding liability issues and recommended that the Weed District ask for a certificate of insurance from the livestock operator.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Public Comment/Other. Keith Mainwaring informed the Board that he is continuing with the radio shows and they are well received. Hengel commented that he has had several positive comments about the last show.
2. Chemical Cost Quotes. Hengel stated to the Board that he had received cost quotes for herbicide from UAP ($4,477), Rocky Mountain Supply ($4,647) and Ag Depot ($5,201). UAP was awarded the submitted cost quote.
3. Special County Grant - $7,500. Hengel presented to the Board his recommendations of operations requests with the grant. For FY 2009 available grant funds were increased to $7500 from $6200. Hengel has suggested purchasing repair and maintenance supplies. He would like the various field inspectors to carry digital cameras and set up photo points to record progress at various sites. Also on the list was a pressure washer so that the
trucks can be washed more efficiently, and a new washer and dryer to wash protective clothing. Fred Bell moved to approve the requests, Craig Morgan seconded and the grant expenditures were approved. Jeff Littlefield signed the grant as Chair.
4. Weed District Budget FY’09. Hengel has entered the Weed District budget request in the Finance Office. There are two (2) areas where the Weed District requested funds over the baseline budget. As per the Board’s recommendations, Hengel requested a $10,000 increase in herbicide in order to implement the limited boom spray program. The baseline budget for seasonal wages has been dropped from $69,648 to $58,000. As a result the
District has only hired six (6) seasonal sprayers. Hengel will perform many of the Crew Foreman duties. Next week the County Commissioners will hold additional budget meetings. There was discussion regarding the budget for seasonal wages. The Board felt that Hengel should ask for the $10,000 increase in the herbicide budget and to request that the seasonal spray crew budget be adjusted back up to $69,648 as the Weed District is not requesting additional
positions.
5. Commissioner Report. Commissioner Skinner is attending a MACo meeting in Helena and was excused.
6. Chairperson Report. Chairman Littlefield’s discussion topics are on the Agenda.
7. Enforcement/ Education Coordinator Report.
 Ansley reported that he is getting busy with on-site property inspections. He also participated in the Farm Fair May 7th and 8th.
He has fielded a number of requests for technical assistance.
Complaints are coming in and he is sending out notification and reminder letters.
He has been busy getting the rental sprayers operational.
Ansley has attended mapping and GPS training workshops
He gave a presentation at the Herbicide Safety training which was well attended.
Ansley had the first Frog Rock organizational meeting on May 1st but it was not very well attended. He will hold another meeting on June 26th.
On Saturday June 7th he will attend the National Trail Days event at the Fish Hatchery and provide technical assistance.
Fred Bell asked about the call from Sebena’s regarding their properties. Ansley informed Bell that he would be meeting with the maintenance supervisor for the properties. Bell also asked about the mention of the property by Dottie’s Casino. Ansley informed him that they have a commercial applicator hired to spray. Ansley asked Bell if he still had the Cantrell property listed. Bell does and he will approach the property owners to remind them to treat the weeds again this year. Bell also had a question regarding the Mule Deer Foundation program. The Foundation has sprayed the Lewis & Clark Caverns by helicopter and has asked the Weed District if they could borrow the backpack sprayers to complete the project.
8. Coordinator Report.
o Hengel introduced Michael Jones – Big Sky Weed Coordinator and Patrick Lawrence - GYCC Gravel Pit Inspector. Lawrence reported that the object of his program is to get gravel pit operators interested in certifying their gravel pits. He will be travelling throughout the GYCC area mapping weeds. The goal is to get 50 pits certified this year. Lawrence will also help map weeds on all Gallatin County gravel pits and roads. The position is partially funded through the GYCC. Michael Jones will
be working primarily with small acreage landowners in the Big Sky area and part of Gallatin Canyon. He is developing data bases to simplify tracking, has been working with Jody Fagan on an editorial in the Lone Peak Lookout and has sent out an outreach mailing. Jones would like to generate a map of Big Sky to show previous sites visited and where weeds have been treated, which would assist with continuity from year to year.
o The Madison Ditch and Dyk Company approached the Weed District for assistance in getting a weed management program started. Hengel has inspected the property and Lawrence has mapped the weeds. The crews will spray the property as soon as the weather permits.
o Hengel held a meeting for the Upper Madison WMA in West Yellowstone. The attendance was low but there are a lot of summer residents that have not returned yet. There will be another meeting on June 24th at the Povah Community Center.
o Hengel attended a Conservation District meeting with Ron Carlstrom. The goal was to discuss with the Conservation District assistance with funding for a small acreage position that would be based in the Extension Office.
o The Participating Agreement with the Forest Service for the GYCC program was emailed to the Weed District just before lunch on this date. Hengel has not had a chance to thoroughly review it but there are a couple of minor changes to make to the wording. Hengel requested that the Board give him authorization to sign off on the agreement. Fred Bell so moved, Bob Hofman seconded and the motion carried. Bob Urich abstained on the
grounds that he did not want to sign off on a nine (9) page document that he has not read.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 3rd.
The meeting was adjourned at 2.58PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Perry, Secretary.
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