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Board asks trapper for revised quote and animal counts before approving long-term contract
Summary
A contractor’s beaver/muskrat control quote prompted debate over last year’s payments and recordkeeping. The board asked the trapper for a revised bid and requested he supply head-count/bounty records before the board approves a multiyear contract.
The Vermillion County Drainage Board discussed a proposed beaver and muskrat control contract from a contractor identified in the meeting as Justin and decided to request a revised quote and documentation of catch numbers before approving any multi-year commitment.
Board members questioned a flat new price the contractor proposed and compared it to payments made last year. Meeting discussion included conflicting statements about prior-year spending (one member said the board paid ‘‘just under $4,000’’ last year; another said the board paid ‘‘$5,000’’), and members asked for clearer accounting of how much the county fronted for equipment. Several board members said they would like the contractor to continue for another year but requested a detailed head count or bounty report so the county can tie payment to effectiveness.
The board also noted muskrat reproduction rates raised the risk of population rebound (members cited two to three litters per year and up to four to eight young per litter), which affects whether a single season’s trapping will be sufficient. The board agreed to ask Justin for a revised quote and for a record of how many animals were removed last season; staff was authorized to request the updated price and to circulate that quote to board members by email so they can approve or reject it without waiting for the next meeting.
No final contract was approved at the meeting; the board instructed staff to solicit a revised price and documentation and to present the materials by email or at the next meeting.
