Lincoln County weed board approves budget, buys trailer and plans expanded roadside spraying

Members of the Lincoln County Weed Pest Board approved routine business and accepted staff recommendations on equipment and spraying plans at their meeting.

The board accepted the budget and an equipment report after staff said a new trailer was purchased for about $6,500 — less than the roughly $11,000 that had been budgeted for a trailer in prior estimates. The staff member who presented the reports said the overall budget was higher than the previous year, though the exact increase in the transcript was unclear; the presenter also said chemical costs had risen by roughly $1,000 so far and could increase further depending on global market pressures.

The county’s spray supervisor outlined a change in timing and technique for roadside weed control. "My plan this year is trying to get across every road early in the spring — what I call solid spraying, which is six foot, 11 foot of the shoulder for sure," the supervisor said, adding that midyear would be used to chase bad spots and that milestone products would be emphasized in the fall to improve control of Canadian thistle. The supervisor said last year’s dry conditions limited effectiveness to about 50 percent control.

Board members moved and voted to accept the budget, equipment and spray reports. No individual vote tallies or mover/second names were recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: roadside weed control affects visibility, drainage and noxious-weed management across Lincoln County roads; changes in timing and product use can alter effectiveness and cost.

Adjournment and next steps: staff will circulate details for the next meeting, scheduled provisionally for June 16, and will follow up on implementation details for the spray plan and any cost impacts to township contracts.