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State ag inspector urges Wicomico County to revive weed‑control program; staff discuss staffing and costs
Summary
A Maryland Department of Agriculture inspector told the council the county should re-establish a noxious‑weed control program, citing risks to farmland and roadways; staff and council discussed staffing costs, revenue options and next steps to repost the coordinator position.
Victoria Spice, an agricultural inspector with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, told the Wicomico County Council on Jan. 6 that reviving a county weed‑control program would protect farmland, reduce road hazards and help limit the spread of noxious agricultural species. Spice said Maryland has eight state‑designated noxious weeds, all with agricultural impact, and that Wicomico previously participated in a cooperative agreement but opted out in March 2025.
Spice outlined a practical staffing model used by other counties: a part‑time seasonal coordinator paid about $20.25 an hour working April through October, or, in larger counties, a full crew or a full‑time position reassigned seasonally. She said the county already has spray equipment in a county truck that had been housed in the roads department and that the county could reuse that asset if it fills a coordinator position and provides administrative support.
On funding, Spice described multiple revenue streams: the county would pay herbicide costs for county‑road spraying; the program can generate revenue through fee‑for‑service work for residents; and the county could negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the State Highway Administration under which state highways would provide herbicide when a coordinator sprays state right‑of‑way and pay an hourly rate that can be invoiced back to the county.
Sam Parker, a farmer and member of the Wicomico County Weed Advisory Committee, and other council members urged county staff to meet with the executive and finance teams to develop a fiscal note. Councilors asked for estimates of total costs and options for a part‑time coordinator, revenue models and possible grant or partner support. Spice offered to assist with candidate screening and licensing; she noted the licensing process for a county applicator can take about a year depending on the applicant’s experience.
Next steps: staff and the executive branch will meet with Agriculture and local farming stakeholders to develop cost estimates, a job posting for a coordinator and options for program structure; council requested a fiscal note and a recommended operating model before any budget commitment.
