Board receives 2025 Weed Commissioner report; staff raise equipment and right-of-way cleanup concerns

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors received and approved the 2025 Weed Commissioner report after a presentation by Jared Jepsen, the county's weed commissioner. The board voted 5-0 to receive the report.

Jepsen told supervisors that while inspection and enforcement results on the front page "looks like everything is found but not a problem," he wanted to flag recurring cleanup costs the county faces after third parties work in county right-of-way. "When those guys work in the right away, when they're done working there, it's costing money to come back in and clean up after them," Jepsen said, noting volunteer trees, weeds and debris that require county crews to follow up.

Jepsen also recommended equipment updates. He said the weed program's scribe truck is a 2002 model with about 185,000 miles and that a brush tractor/mower has nearly 9,000 hours and has required motor and transmission work. "It's getting to that point where we did the motor and the transmission. We're getting back close to them hours again," he said, and suggested considering whether to replace with similar equipment or change to another platform, such as machinery that fits a backhoe or skid loader.

Supervisor Bendinger asked staff to return with an informational agenda item in the coming weeks to discuss right-of-way permits and cleanup responsibilities. The board approved receipt and approval of the Weed Commissioner's report by voice vote, 5-0.

The vote to receive the report does not adopt new policy or a new equipment purchase; it records the commissioner's findings and directs staff to bring an informational item about right-of-way cleanup costs back to the board for further discussion.