Valley County approves MOUs with Donnelly and Cascade for roadside weed control; staff outlines training, drone research and grasshopper monitoring

The Valley County Board of Commissioners on March 24 approved memoranda of understanding with the cities of Donnelly and Cascade to provide roadside weed-control services, with spending limits set at not to exceed $1,200 for Donnelly and $4,500 for Cascade.

The agreements, presented during the board’s action items, were described as unchanged from the prior year except for updated dates and signatories. Commissioners moved and seconded the contracts and voted to approve both motions; the chair declared the motions passed.

Staff member Steve, who reported on the county’s weed-control efforts, said the county expects to have “two returning from Road and Bridge” starting May 1 and that hiring is progressing: “We’ve got eight applicants, which is, I think, a record, and I have four of them already scheduled.” He told the board he had conducted phone interviews and expects to reach full staffing for the season.

Steve outlined planned outreach and training: a recertification class scheduled for May 8, a presentation to Cascade High School on noxious weeds, and a PowerPoint session for the Master Naturalists program. He said the May 8 class will include a presenter on drone technology for roadside spraying and agricultural uses, and that he is researching equipment costs. “It was kinda shell shocked when I seen it because it was almost $40,000,” Steve said of one drone bid, adding that the county wants to start on a smaller scale and possibly include a purchase discussion in next year’s budget.

Board members and staff raised the operational challenge of training and retaining a qualified drone operator. “The only issue I have really is the personnel to be the pilot,” Steve said, noting the licensing and ongoing training requirements.

The board also discussed insect pest risks. Steve said Valley County and surrounding counties have seen past infestations and that the county is preparing for grasshopper monitoring and response. He said the Department of Agriculture will attend the May 8 meeting and that, if an infestation occurs, the county might act as a distribution hub for chemicals used in response. “If it comes through to an infestation like we had a few years ago, we kinda may be a distribution hub,” Steve said.

On enforcement and compliance, Steve said the county plans to resume sending noncompliance letters for property owners with recurring weed problems. “I have about a hundred ready to go out again,” he said, describing prior-year mailings and the production steps remaining (printing and stuffing envelopes).

The board approved the two MOUs during the meeting by formal motions. Commissioners expressed general support for restoring capacity after previous staffing shortages and for exploring technology and cooperative responses to pests.

The actions taken at the meeting on these items were limited to approving the two MOUs and receiving the staff update; no additional budget appropriation for drones or new policies was adopted during the session.

Looking ahead, staff said the county will finalize the May 8 training agenda and continue hiring and outreach to property owners about weed management.