2017-09-28 Budget mtg - Weed for 2018Budget meeting with Weed
September 28, 2017
2:05 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson (2:11 p.m.), Becky Butler,
Steve Walton, Bill Wamsley
Guests: Justyna Tomtas, Mitch Townsend, Matt Brock, Bill Marshall, Anthony Ahrens, Linda Williams
Recorder: Rieva Lester
2018 prelim budget
Revenue: $71,756; expenditures: $219,922; FTEs: 1 plus casual
summer help
Revenue review
Becky Butler said all of the revenue comes through grants.
Expenditure review
Bill Wamsley said the Weed board is made up of volunteers
who provide oversight.
Bill said the state identifies noxious weeds annually. He said
the Weed board assists with weed control work and education.
Bill said the county’s worst weeds are knotweed and Scotch broom.
Becky said Weed’s work is an unfunded mandate because the state requires it but does not provide
funding. However, Bill said, Weed can ask for a special assessments. Although Lewis County does not do
it, he said, other area counties do.
Bill discussed the forest patrol assessment.
Commissioner Jackson joined the meeting at 2:11 p.m.
Bill discussed a memorandum regarding a 2002 assessment proposal.
Becky said the general fund contributes $148,000 toward Weed. She said an assessment would likely
fully offset those costs. Bill said Cowlitz and Jefferson counties recently worked assessments.
Bill said any fines or fees linked to noncompliance would be collected – and kept – by the courts.
TO-DO LIST
Ask the Assessor for the
timeline to get an assessment in
place.
Determine a timeline for
implementing an assessment
for Weed.
Schedule follow-up meeting
once Bill has secured the
information.
Bill estimated 10 to 20 notices of violation are sent per season.
Bill said the Weed board would have to hold a public hearing to classify lands prior to establishing an
assessment. Bill said he would have to reach out to the Treasurer’s Office and Assessor’s Office to move
forward.
Bill said his understanding is that Jefferson County provided operating monies in the interim until the
assessment took effect.
Becky said there would be a huge savings to the general fund to move toward an assessment.
Bill said a new weed list is adopted annually.
Meeting ended at 2:38 p.m.