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Council approves $58,000 goat contract for weed mitigation over a dissent
Summary
Council approved a $58,000 contract with LS5 Livestock Company to deploy goats for weed mitigation in difficult terrain; Councilor Milonas voted no, saying prior mitigation made conditions worse and lacked measurable metrics.
The Rock Springs City Council approved Resolution 2025-122 on Sept. 16, authorizing a $58,000 personal services contract with LS5 Livestock Company to perform targeted weed mitigation using goats in locations the city said are difficult to access by equipment.
Councilor Milonas opposed the motion, saying the weed mitigation work performed this summer “made it worse” and that there were no applied metrics to show the approach improved conditions. “There were no methods or metrics applied to say that there is an improvement,” Milonas said.
Mayor Max Mickelson defended the approach, saying the goat mitigation has been used successfully in other Wyoming communities and is appropriate where equipment cannot access steep or brush-clogged terrain. The mayor said the goats leave grass that will lie down in flood conditions and cited examples from communities such as Cheyenne.
The motion to approve the contract was moved by Councilor Hickerson and seconded by Councilor Thompson; the motion carried with Councilor Milonas voting no. The minutes record the contract amount ($58,000) but do not specify contract duration or precise treatment locations; city staff are responsible for contract execution and site selection under the approved agreement.
