Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Weed & Parks outlines outreach with University of Montana, declines BPA contract and details storm cleanup
Summary
Flathead County Weed, Parks and Recreation reported a partnership with the University of Montana for herbicide stewardship materials, declined a Bonneville Power Administration spray contract to protect county rights‑of‑way capacity, and described extensive tree removal after a December windstorm.
Chris Mestis, Flathead County Weed, Parks and Recreation Director, briefed commissioners on the department’s winter operations and outreach plans.
Mestis said the department plans to work with the University of Montana and the Flathead Biological Station on pesticide stewardship materials: two‑sided rack cards (approximate dimensions described in packet) and quad‑fold pamphlets that will include weed identification, herbicide selection, application rates, timing and backpack sprayer calibration. He said the university would assist with funding and the materials should be ready for public distribution and presentations this spring and summer.
On operations, Mestis said winter seasonal hours and staffing are reduced but the department completed major heater upgrades under CIP and winterized equipment and chemical sheds. Contract spraying revenue was above historic levels due to favorable weather and a stronger DNRC contract; as a result, the department declined a Bonneville Power Administration spray contract this year because additional contracted work would cut into county right‑of‑way and parks obligations.
Mestis described significant tree and brush removal work following a December windstorm that downed many trees across county parks. He said staff have triaged the most heavily used parks and that removal work will continue through spring; the department is operating with two maintenance employees for much of this work. For wood disposal, some timber is left for residents to collect at specified sites or taken to county burn pits and handled in spring if not removed.
On water accesses, commissioners asked about higher lake levels at Bitterroot Lake; Mestis said the department will assess damage in spring and noted he had not yet seen the site this winter. A commissioner also reported contact from a congressional office working on funding to replace an end gate and possibly a levee at the lake.
Mestis noted that youth recreation registrations are down in some programs while adult leagues remain strong; park rental revenue year‑to‑date is ahead of prior years. He closed by describing ongoing maintenance, inventory and planning work for the upcoming budget season.
