Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Predator Control Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lincoln County raises predator-control fees, sets $50 hourly rate and $2-per-mile mileage
Summary
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved higher fees for the county's predator-control program, increasing labor to $50 per hour, mileage to $2 per mile and adding higher charges for forced-control cases.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted to raise fees for the county's predator-control program, approving a $50 hourly labor rate, a $2-per-mile mileage reimbursement and higher charges for forced-control cases.
The change, made during the board's regular meeting, is intended to improve the program's cost recovery after commissioners said the service had been returning roughly 41 percent of its budgeted costs. Commissioner Jerry Woodruff moved the fee schedule; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call.
County officials and program staff said the program has expanded rapidly and that mileage, labor and equipment replacement have driven costs. Deputy County Attorney Tyler Volkmar noted that the program's existing sign-up document is primarily a liability waiver and does not lock the county into future pricing: "there's nothing in that that actually binds us to, future work at those costs," Volkmar said, adding that new forms with explicit fees can be used moving forward.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether to align predator-control fees with the county's longstanding Noxious Weed Department rates. County staff said the predator-control program is in its early stages and that some smaller, incremental increases now would allow officials to re-evaluate the program's financial performance before the next budget cycle.
Board members also discussed logistical questions such as replacing the program vehicle in the next one to two years and coordinating equipment and seasonal staff with the road and weed departments. Commissioners emphasized a desire to keep the program affordable for landowners who cannot treat problems themselves while recovering a higher share of costs.
The board adopted the schedule discussed by staff: labor $50/hour; mileage $2/mile (with double mileage and surcharges for forced-control cases); supplies priced as presented (zinc phosphide and Rosol at $6.50 per pound, hand-out rates for other listed items) and an administrative/management component for forced-control cases. The board directed staff to present updated program forms listing the fees for new participants.
Votes and immediate next steps were completed at the meeting; commissioners said they will re-evaluate rates again during the upcoming budget discussions.
