Commissioners proclaim March as Invasive Species Action Month; HIP reports volunteer and grant achievements

Hamilton County commissioners on Feb. 24 approved a proclamation establishing March 2025 as Invasive Species Action Month and received an annual report from the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP).

A HIP representative, speaking on behalf of Hamilton County Soil and Water, reported program highlights from the partnership’s first formal annual report: more than 30 volunteer events, a stated volunteer-labor value figure (the speaker said "over $96,000" for volunteer labor and also described over "$30,000 worth of volunteer time just on hip projects"), about $80,000 in grants returned to private landowners for invasive- species removal, and the development of a GIS tool, HIPmap, used by parks and county staff for surveying and tracking invasive plants. The speaker said the program’s trade-in program was featured on the public-radio program Science Friday.

The presentation emphasized mobilizing volunteers and private‑land assistance; the speaker said HIP has 19 park stewards and is moving the county from "awareness" to an "action month" to expand invasive‑species removal efforts. A commissioner suggested the partnership consider a resolution for county and state boards to encourage changes to the state terrestrial-plant rule; HIP staff said some species remain available for sale pending state rulemaking.

Commissioners moved and seconded the proclamation; roll-call in the transcript recorded the vote as unanimous among those present and the motion carried.

Ending: The board thanked HIP volunteers and staff; HIP asked the public to engage in spring events and indicated plans to invite commissioners to view new mobile soil‑health exhibits.