Submitted Photo
A mower trims up acreage across the street from a weed-infested property along 32nd Avenue Northwest in Minot this summer in this photo by a neighboring property owner.
Ward County commissioners plan to make another effort to address weeds on a vacant property in north Minot after hearing again from concerned neighbors.
The commission’s only action in response to a neighbor’s letter Tuesday was to direct the auditor’s office to review minutes regarding a talked-about committee with the City of Minot. The commission voiced interest in standing up the committee and starting meetings with the city.
The weed-infested property is located within Minot’s city limits but never was annexed, putting it in the city’s extra-territorial area for zoning code ordinances but the county’s domain for any enforcement of ordinances.
The county has no ordinance related to weed control that would apply in this situation.
The 9.44 acres are located along 32nd Avenue Northwest, in a residential area just south of the proposed new high school. It is dominated by a yellow-flowered perennial weed known as common tansy, with other weeds and junk debris also in the mix.
Last fall, the county weed officer contacted the owners of the Ballantyne property, who live out of state, to request the property be mowed. The commission had understood that did happen.
However, Commissioner Jim Rostad said he spoke with a neighbor this summer who said a mower made a couple of rounds last year but kept breaking down due to the debris, so quit.
“There’s nothing legally that we can do at this time,” County Engineer Dana Larsen said, “unless you were to do research to find out if you can pass some type of ordinance or if you have an agreement with the City of Minot that we’ve been talking about for decades.”
State’s Attorney Roza Larson also said her office would have to research the county’s authority under state law and its home rule charter regarding imposing any ordinances in this situation.
Another challenge is the invasive weeds on the property aren’t listed under the category of noxious, which are the type of weeds that the county’s weed enforcement officer can address.
Commissioner Shelly Weppler suggested a concerned neighbor offer to buy the property and clean it up. The county cannot purchase properties for that reason.
Ward County Weed Officer Derrill Fick said there are biological agents that can be used to destroy certain weeds and he plans to look into those.
Common tansy can grow one and half to six feet tall and contains alkaloids that can be toxic to humans and animals, according to North Dakota State University. Illnesses in humans have occurred after hand-pulling.