Park County staff summarized noxious‑weed grant activity for commissioners on June 12, saying the county currently manages three grant projects: two nearing completion and one newly awarded.

Erica (county budget staff) explained the usual structure: the county purchases chemicals and pays applicators, landowners reimburse half the chemical costs, grants reimburse the county for the grant share, and commercial application costs are split and then reimbursed by the grant. ‘‘So every grant should 0 out at the end of the branch cycle,’’ Erica said, meaning the grant budget should reconcile to zero once claims are filed and reimbursements received.

Specific projects: staff described Strawberry Fields (budget reconciliation identified a $2,500 receivable), Shields Valley phase 2 (reapplication for the same area this year; $3,600 remaining from the prior award), and Shields Valley North (a new $30,000 award already under contract; most chemicals purchased and most participant checks expected by week’s end). Staff noted that landowners must spend grant monies within about 18 months and submit claims by the deadlines; delayed landowner claims can create timing problems that show as receivables in one fiscal year and reimbursements in the next.

Why it matters: the grants require county cash outlay before state reimbursement and the county must manage timing so grant cycles reconcile without leaving unrecovered costs on the county’s books.

Next steps: staff will submit pending claims and monitor the Montana grants portal for updates; they asked commissioners to expect that the new commercial application (Strawberry Creek / commercial application) reconciliation will generate a receivable for FY2025 that will be collected when the state processes claims later in the fall.