Bonner County approves roadside noxious-weeds spraying contract; director outlines spray widths and opt-out process

The Bonner County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year service agreement on March 3 with Custom Spray Service for prescribed herbicide application on specified county rights of way.

Chase Young Dahl, the county’s Noxious Weeds director (Speaker 12), told the board he obtained quotes from three providers and recommended Custom Spray Service at $48.70 per lane mile. Based on the prescribed miles, the tentative project total is just over $24,000; he said he budgeted $25,000 in the FY ’26 professional services line item.

Young Dahl described the technical plan and public-notice steps: narrower spray widths (about 5–10 feet off collectors) and larger widths (10–15 feet) on arterial roads, and a rotational treatment schedule so not every road is treated every year. He said the county will supply the herbicide under a statewide contract to save cost. He also explained an opt-out/no-spray agreement process: landowners may sign an annual agreement to control listed noxious weeds on their frontage, and the county publishes the noxious-weed list and a public notice; he set a July 15 deadline for that annual agreement and cited Idaho Department of Agriculture Administrative Rule 20.609 as the rule housing the noxious-weed list.

Ann Wilder, a Bonner County resident (Speaker 7), asked whether the program targets only noxious weeds or all roadside vegetation; Young Dahl replied that the prescribed chemistries are selective and that grasses are not affected, and he offered to hold a technical workshop for the public on chemistry and environmental effects. He said the compounds are intended to remain in the top inch of soil and that the program includes prevention through pre-emergent components in the mix.

The board voted to approve the agreement. Commissioners and staff said they will use budgeted funds for the project and will publish public notices and the no-spray opt-out process.