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Residents urge West Valley City to address "goat head" weed infestation along 41st South
Summary
Several residents used public comment to press the council to remove a growing infestation of "goat head" noxious weeds along the north side of 41st South, saying the plants damage bike tires and pet paws and urging city action and possible use of state funding.
During the public-comment period on Sept. 23, residents urged the West Valley City Council to respond to an expanding infestation of "goat head" (a state-listed noxious weed) along the north side of 41st South.
One resident described calling city streets-maintenance twice and leaving messages without receiving a callback. The resident said patches run from the Jordan River to about 3200 West on city property, noted that the plants puncture bicycle tires and can lodge in pet paws, and suggested early intervention with herbicide or seeking state assistance because the plant appears on the state noxious-weed list.
Jim Visock, also speaking during public comment, said persistent problems include selective enforcement by the city’s code-enforcement unit and urged staff and council to enforce ordinances consistently or bring proposed ordinance changes through the city manager. Visock said some enforcement practices worry residents and called for staff to address longer-standing housing and maintenance concerns alongside weed control.
Other residents asked the city to recruit younger volunteers for the Clean and Beautiful program and encouraged Parks and Recreation to coordinate community-service efforts that could help address invasive thistle and goat-head patches.
No staff response resolving the selective-enforcement allegation was recorded in the meeting; the chair reminded speakers the council may respond after the comment period and noted the public hearing on impact fees would occur separately later in the agenda.
