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Commissioners hear push for stronger thistle enforcement and outreach as weed program ramps up
Summary
Public and commissioners discussed invasive thistles, state cost-share for herbicides, outreach letters and enforcement timelines; public works said it is reinstating a cost-share program and will follow a staged enforcement process starting with courtesy letters.
Teton County commissioners and public-works staff discussed the county’s weed management plan on May 27, with several speakers asking for a more assertive enforcement approach to invasive thistles and for clearer timelines on county action.
Commissioner Ron James and other commissioners pressed public-works staff for firm timelines and stronger outreach to property owners whose lots have heavy thistle infestations. "I'd like to see the county send a letter to folks. So you spray your property or this invasive... We're gonna spray it or we're gonna spray it for you, and we're gonna send you a bill," Commissioner James said during the discussion.
Public-works Director Daryl Johnson and staff described a stepped enforcement process used by the county: a first courtesy/advisory letter, then follow-up contact and, if necessary, a formal enforcement letter that obligates county follow-up treatment. Johnson said the county is re-establishing a state cost-share program to help property owners with discounted herbicides and treatments, and he asked for patience to scale capacity. "We're in the process of getting that going... that's gonna be some discounted herbicides and potentially discounted treatments on the property," Johnson said.
Johnson also explained enforcement timelines. An advisory/courtesy letter gives a property owner about five days to acknowledge the notice and a week to respond; if the owner does not respond the county may issue a legal enforcement letter requiring action and the county may follow through using contracted treatments with costs billed back to the owner. He warned the county’s capacity to perform treatments is limited and that future treatments will likely be contracted out. "When we send that legal document, that obligates us to follow through... you have 5 days to control this or notify me of your intentions," Johnson said.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to present a more detailed weed-control update to the board, including how the cost-share program will work, outreach materials, and a budget/time estimate for targeted areas heavily infested with thistle.
