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12/10/2008: "Council Will Hold Special Meeting To Pass Revised Ord Increasing Weed Tax"

The county council will hold a special meeting (Monday January the 5) for a pubic hearing to receive public input on a revised ordinance.pdf (6\k file) to increase the tax for the Noxious Weed Board.

The decision was made at the regular Tuesday council meeting. Neither the ordinance nor the subject had been on the agenda for the Monday council meeting, but at that meeting the new ordinance was discussed, and it was decided to place the matter on the agenda for the meeting on Tuesday. ( Related story on Original ordinance )



At the Tuesday meeting Councilman Rich Peterson questioned how it would be possible to pass the revised ordinance in time to increase the tax for next year.

Peterson was somewhat assuaged by staff response that if they moved quickly it could be done, but they would have to schedule a public hearing for a special meeting just for that purpose.

Councilman Alan Lichter then made a motion to hold the special meeting, Councilman Bob Myhr made a second, and Chairman Howard Rosenfeld asked if there was any discussion prior to calling for a vote.

Peterson said he would not support the motion. Peterson and Councilman Gene Knapp have both expressed concern that given the hard financial times facing the voters and the County, now is not the time to impose a new tax.

Peterson said that while “I support the weed program, I think we ought to have one, I think it ought to be on the ballot, I think the people should be allowed to vote for it.”

Peterson has repeatedly said the only way the council can dig out of the financial hole they are in is to ask the voters to “lift the levy lid” on property taxes, and he is concerned the voters will not vote in an increase if the council continues to add, or add to new programs.’

Councilman Kevin Ranker said that state law allows them “to do it exactly the way we are doing it; state wide, everywhere else, the councils and commissions make this decision.”

Weed Board Chair Amanda Azous pointed out that when the question of should a weed board be created in San Juan County, the vote was 60% in favor..

Councilman Gene Knapp said that prior to voting at the public hearing for the ordnance in January, he would like to know why noxious weeds appears in two different budgets. He said he would also like to receive a breakdown of the budget showing how many employees have been terminated; how many have had reduced time, and how many departments’ budgets have been decreased.

With that the Rosenfeld called the question, with all but Peterson voting in favor.