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McCone County Commissioners debate expanded noxious-weed spraying, flag budget and licensing limits
Summary
Commissioners discussed expanding noxious-weed spraying in the countynorth, weighing safety, applicator licensing and the $12,000 annualized cost of extra spraying time. They asked staff to explore using two existing crew members for part-time spraying and to clarify licensing for Tordon.
County commissioners spent a sustained portion of the July 20 meeting weighing how to step up noxious-weed control in northern McCone County while managing safety and budget limits.
A commissioner outlined options for using two existing crew members part-time and taking a county spray pickup north during the spring to get early-season control. "We paid $400 an hour for 13 hours of flying, plus chemical," the commissioner said, arguing for evaluating ground spray alternatives. Commissioners discussed whether spraying certain chemicals requires a licensed applicator and noted temperature windows for some products: "Some of those chemicals you're supposed to quit at 85," one commissioner said.
The board discussed the potential budget impact if the county hired ten extra spraying hours, describing that cost as "almost one employee for the year" and asked staff to check whether current crew members would accept the additional duties. The discussion also included an operational safety note that spraying is usually done with two people when feasible. The board did not adopt a final policy at the meeting but directed follow-up on licensing requirements, crew availability and precise cost estimates.
