06-23-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--June 23, 1997 1645 DEPARTMENT HEADS--PLEASE POST IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE FOR STAFF TO READ SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 23, 1997 MEETING TO ORDER Chairman Alon Wieland called the meeting to order at 3:30 PM with members present as follows: Paul Koenig, John Meyer, Roberta Quick and Alon Wieland. Donna Schneider was absent. Aisc present were States Attorney John Goff, County Auditor Michael Montplaisir, County Engineer Keith Berndt, Vector/Weed Control Director Joel Young, Weed Control employee Walt Valovage, Extension Agent Brad Cogdill and County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson. GRASSHOPPER PROBLEM, Commission Policy 16.30 reaffirmed; grasshopper coordinator appointed; township surveys to be pursued Mr. Wieland said an emergency meeting of the County Commission was called to discuss a serious grasshopper problem in the southeastern part of Cass County. He asked for comments from concerned citizens. Mr. Darrell Schroeder was present to discuss his concerns. He lives in Davenport and represents Davenport Agriculture, the applicator. He said an informal meeting was held last week in Davenport to discuss the grasshopper problem. He noted that representatives from Addison, Davenport, Normanna, Pleasant and Warren Townships attended the meeting. Mr. Bruce Andvik was present to also discuss his concerns. He is the chairman for Davenport Township and also farms in this area. He said Davenport Township has already sprayed along a few township roads and said the situation is serious. Mr. Berndt discussed the costs of spraying. He said if spraying was done in a 120 foot swath along the roadsides it would cost approximately $1,500 to $2,000 per township. He said 15 to 20 miles of county road per township may need to be sprayed. Mr. Meyer asked how long the spraying would take to complete. Mr. Berndt said the boomless sprayer used by the Weed Control Department makes 45 foot swaths at about 5 miles per hour and estimated a township may take about a day to spray. Mr. Berndt said only Davenport Township contacted him regarding grasshopper problems. He called Brad Burgum from the Township Officers Association. Mr. Burgum had not heard of any grasshopper concerns. Mr. Berndt said the county has statutory authority to control pests and can designate the Weed Control Department as the applicator. Mr. Goff said the emergency fund may be used to cover some of the spraying costs. Mr. Valovage gave information regarding grasshopper infestations. He used to work at NDSU with grasshopper research. He now works for the Weed Control Department. He said with outbreaks, the longer treatment is delayed, the harder grasshoppers are to control because they infest crops. If spraying is to be done in this situation, it should be done in the next few weeks. He also said the economic threshold to determine if spraying is required is 50 nymphs per square yard.