Noxious Weeds program outlines mandated services, low‑cost herbicide sales and possible workload increase if state adds species

Mark Furry, director of Noxious Weeds, told commissioners the office performs state‑mandated inspections, provides herbicides to the public at a mandated reduced price, offers education, issues legal notices when landowners fail to control regulated species and treats county rights‑of‑way and county properties. Furry said the office inspects more than 600 properties annually and maintains about 17 miles of curb‑and‑gutter mowing adjacent to bike paths and other county features; Noxious Weeds also contracts with townships and KDOT to treat rights‑of‑way and charges hourly plus chemical cost on contract work. On the cost‑share program, Furry said state law requires counties to sell certain chemicals at reduced cost; Sedgwick County sells at about a 25% reduction off its purchase price and retains records for three years for any restricted chemical purchases that require operator licensing. Furry warned of a potential workload increase if the state secretary of agriculture adds five species to the regulated list (the director named bush honeysuckle, cut‑leaf teasel and common teasel as present in the county and mentioned diffuse and spotted knapweed as threats). He also noted chemical tariffs and rising pest‑control chemical costs—many active ingredients are manufactured overseas—could raise operating costs. The office’s 2026 request shows a slight personnel reduction from the prior year; Furry said the county may seek additional equipment or personnel next year if the state adds more regulated species. Commissioners asked whether the public needs certifications to buy chemicals: Furry said only one chemical requires a state applicator license and the county tracks that sale for three years per state rules. He said information on hours and available chemicals is on the department website and in a printed sheet available in the office.