Whitefish prepares to tackle weeds

Whitefish isn't likely to eradicate all noxious weeds. But when weed control is a matter of customer service to residents, the city is willing to try.

That's the stance City Manager Gary Marks took when an annual customer service survey showed residents were still unhappy with weed control efforts.

The Whitefish City Council recently approved an advisory committee to assist the city in tackling weeds. And the council likely will approve amending the weed ordinance at its Dec. 6 meeting.

Marks is quick to point out the city can't win a war on weeds.

"Weeds don't know boundaries," he said. "We can control weeds in the boundaries. But as long as there are people and vehicles coming in and out of the city, they will bring seeds in with them."

But if the customer isn't happy, the city will try harder, Marks says.

"Weeds is our lowest-ranking performance," Marks said of the services the public reviews. "It comes in as 'fair.'"

Citizens around the country typically rate weed-control programs lower than other services, such as the fire department, Marks says.

In 2001, the Whitefish survey indicated people were displeased with weeds. In response, the city began spraying its properties annually and hired a code enforcement officer whose job included notifying people of weed ordinance violations.

"We were hoping those two steps would increase the community's [positive] response on what service they're getting," Marks said. "It really hasn't - the numbers haven't changed."

This spring Marks sent out a weed survey that included questions such as whether Whitefish should provide weed control services and asked for suggestions and comments. The city got 124 responses, the typical number for surveys.

The city formed a focus group of two City Council members and several city employees to review the responses. The group recommended creating a committee to make suggestions for weed control efforts, notify the code enforcement officer of violations and educate the public about noxious weeds and how to control them.

The council approved the formation of that committee on Nov. 15.

At that meeting, the council adopted the first reading of an amendment to the weed ordinance.

The amendment states property owners cannot have noxious weeds more than 6 inches tall, rather than the current 8 inches. The amendment also says the city can take action against weeds 10 days after notifying a property owner of a violation - and the city can send the owner the bill.

Under the current ordinance, a property owner has three weeks before the city steps in.

The amendment also would increase from 10 to 20 percent the fee the city can levy in addition to the cost of weed-control services.

The measure goes to the City Council for final approval on Dec. 6.

The city will accept letters from people interested in serving on the weed committee until noon on Dec. 21. Those letters should be sent to the City Clerk's Office, 418 E. Second St., Whitefish, MT, 59937 or to P.O. Box 158, Whitefish, MT 59937.

Five community members will round out the committee that will include a City Council member and the code enforcement officer, Phil Holmes.

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com