County implements additional fee for chemicals

In an effort to minimize a deficit in the noxious weed fund this year, Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to implement a flat rate for chemicals it sells to individuals.

In the past, the county has sold weed chemicals on a cost-share basis. To continue that practice, the county would lose nearly $25,000. The additional $2.37 per gallon flat rate fee will cut the loss by $10,000, according to Public Works Director Jim Harris.

He said recently, he and Bourbon County Noxious Weed Director Nate Taylor met with the state's noxious weed director to discuss the loss the county experiences when it sells chemicals to the public because of the 25-percent cost share program. In the program, the county is allowed to sell noxious weed chemicals to the public for 25 percent less than what the county pays for those chemicals.

In 2015, the county paid $93,792.94 for its supply of chemicals, which, under the 25-percent cost-share, it sold to the public for $68,878.58 for a loss of $24,914.36.

Harris said according to the state, the county's noxious mill levy would have to be more than 1.5 mills before the cost-share could be eliminated. The county's noxious weed fund mill levy is about .9 mills.

"We don't want to raise the mill levy at all," Harris said.

Harris presented commissioners with two options based on the 2015 numbers. Adding a 6 percent handling fee after the cost-share is deducted would give the county a loss of $17,820.64. Charging a flat rate fee would give the county a loss of $14,796.27.

Taylor said when a landowner wants to purchase chemicals from the county, they should contact him and tell him how many acres need to be covered. Taylor can then calculate how much chemical the customer needs per acre. He then deducts the 25 percent from the cost of the chemical. The flat rate fee will then be added to the cost of the product.

Taylor said he checked a local retailer and found one of the chemicals costs about $50 less through the county.

"Even if I broke even, I'd still be helping (the landowners) out significantly," Taylor said.

In 2015, the county did not have enough chemicals to meet the public demand and commissioners said that will happen again in 2016.

In fact, the county will not have enough for its own use.

"You did a good job last year," Commission Chair Barbara Albright said. "Our budget this year may not be as much as you'd like, unfortunately."

Later, Harris assured commissioners he and Taylor are going to watch the budget.

"He was doing intersections, bridges and did a great job (in 2015), but it costs money," Harris said.

When Albright asked what Taylor will do after he exhausts his chemical supply, Harris said Taylor will then be mowing.

Other noxious weed discussion

On Jan. 26, Taylor had provided commissioners with his annual report. During that meeting, Albright suggested Taylor provide community education regarding the control of noxious weeds. Taylor agreed he could possibly have brochures available during the county fair or other public venues.

On Tuesday, Albright asked if Taylor had given the idea more consideration.

Taylor said he is considering reaching out to the local FFA organizations as well as doing something at the fair.

Also on Jan. 26, Taylor spoke to commissioners about some encounters he had with landowners not wanting to give him access to private property to check for noxious weeds. On Tuesday, Harris said he and Taylor spoke to the state director about that issue, too.

"If he wants to go, he can enter your property and look at noxious weeds," Harris said. "If there is a problem, he contacts the sheriff and the sheriff will help him do it. That's nothing new."

Harris and Taylor also reported Taylor attended the Southeast Kansas Weed Directors Association conference in Wichita, which gave him additional credits towards his certification.

Taylor said he was elected vice president of the association.

Other business

* Harris asked permission to bid on a roller currently listed on an online auction. Harris said the roller, which is smaller than the roller purchased in 2015 for asphalt work, would be used for chip-and-seal projects. As of Tuesday, the bid was up to $1,300 and Harris said he hopes to be able to purchase the roller for about $2,000, using funds from the special machinery fund.

Renting a roller, which the county did in 2015, will cost $4,200 per month. Commissioners asked him to report on the status of the auction during the March 22.