By Michael Howell
The Ravalli County Commissioners took the initiative last week and handed the Ravalli County Weed District Board its version of what the changes in state law concerning Weed Districts means in Ravalli County, as a starting point for discussion.
Commissioner Ron Stoltz, who helped author the proposed policy changes, said that one thing it means is that the Manager of the Weed District works for the Board of County Commissioners, not the Weed District Board.
To the Board Chairman Randy Maxwell, he said, “You guys brought us all your policies and we re-wrote them. The coordinator is our employee and policy is set between our board and yours.”
Stoltz said that what was removed from the Weed District Board’s policies was all the information that was not needed. He said all that was needed was the bare bones of the state regulations and not all the associated educational material.
Maxwell said that the policies were developed to comply with state law.
Noxious Weed Coordinator Kellieann Morris said that the policies they gave to the commissioners were all approved by the county attorney’s office and reviewed and approved by the Weed District Board.
Stoltz reiterated that the noxious weed coordinator was under the county commissioners and that the weed board is advisory.
“Policies we don’t agree with won’t go in there and you are an employee of the County,” he said. He said the changes the commission made should go to the Weed Board for their review and then both boards should meet to see if they can come to agreement.
Commissioner Matt Kanenwisher said that he hears a lot that some department or other is just following state law but it is a matter of interpretation and the Commissioners have provided the Weed Board with their interpretation as a starting point for discussion.
“I lean towards exactly what’s required by state law and nothing more,” he said.
Morris asked the Commissioners if she was to continue not responding to complaints while all this is being hashed out. She said she had a large stack of complaints that were not being dealt with.
Commissioner Greg Chilcott said that it was a problem when the state law is changed and goes into effect immediately and the county has to come into compliance, but you can’t be answering complaints under a law that has been changed until you come into compliance with the changes.
Morris said that the only changes in the new law, HB133, was that the Weed Board was now authorized to get a court order for enforcement, assess a civil penalty and place a lien on property for unpaid penalties. She said it also required county approval of Weed Management Plans. She said she interpreted that to mean the county’s own over-all weed management plan, not the many management plans submitted in response to enforcement of complaints.
Commissioner Suzy Foss said that she was not going to get involved because of her recent involvement with the Weed District over some complaints about her ranch. She said she felt a little used and abused during the enforcement process.
“If it can happen to us, it can happen to anybody,” she said.
Morris defended her actions, saying, “It’s not my weed law, it’s Ravalli County’s weed law, it’s the state’s weed law.” Morris said that she and her Board should be treated with respect. She called a comment purportedly made to her in the presence of the Human Resource Director by Commissioner Foss disrespectful.
Commissioner Chilcott steered the discussion back to questions of policy.
Commission Chairman J.R. Iman said that he was in agreement that the educational information should be kept separate from the regulations and the weed management plans.
It was agreed that the two boards would meet in the coming week and discuss the policies.
Commissioners also mentioned at the meeting possibly requiring daily time cards to be kept by weed department employees perhaps with task designations assigned to them as well. They will also discuss lowering subdivision fees for weed mitigation and how the cost to private individuals factors into the enforcement program.