Commissioners approve noxious weed rate increase

The Adams County Noxious Weed Control Board will raise assessment rates for the first time in over two decades.

In June, the Noxious Weed Board requested the rate increase, which the county commissioners approved at their July 12 meeting in Othello.

The commissioners held public hearings for the rate increase at their July 10 and July 12 meetings.

The first hearing had one participant, Michelle Kiesz, who was in favor of the rate increase, while the second meeting had no public participation.

Rates for irrigated farm ground will increase from 30 to 38 cents per acre. Dryland farm ground is now 17 cents per acre, a 5 cent increase.

Ranges, scablands, undeveloped right of ways and other areas, went from 3 cents to 8 cents.

These new rates will remain the same for at least five years. Program coordinator Eric Bell explained this is to prevent the board from having to go back to the commissioners “year after year” for another increase.

“We’ve been hashing this out for the last two and a half years, coming up with a number that will be fair to landowners,” Bell said.

The rate increase will impact the county’s Noxious Weed Program’s budget for 2018, specifically with its fuel and operation costs. Some of those expenses include vehicle maintenance and cost of living expenses. The money will also go toward the program’s enforcement costs and computer upgrades, as they are needed.

Bell said the Noxious Weed Board was able to go 23 years without a rate increase.

Although the program managed to service the 1,930 square miles it covers across Adams County, it had to cut back on personnel, equipment and hours over the years.

“It was brought to our attention that we were undercutting ourselves,” Bell said.

With the funds from the rate increase, the department will be able to expand its resources by hiring more inspectors and purchasing two new vehicles, which Bell said will “help tremendously.”

Staff will also look into potential computer programs to help its operations across the county.

Noxious weeds are non-native plants found in Adams County through human actions.

The county’s Noxious Weed Program works to help landowners identify, control and prevent noxious weeds on their property through Revised Code of Washington Chapter 17.10. The program also serves local municipalities.

If they are not controlled, noxious weeds can reduce crop yields, destroy native plant life and animal habitats.

They can also damage recreational areas, lower property values and poison humans and animals.