One local landowner says a statewide sales tax should be employed to pay for weed eradication.
But officials say the county is already effectively controlling the problem.Bill White told Juab County commissioners he would like their support in seeking such an answer to the weed problem in the state.
"The state can raise money for the Olympics," he said. But when the Olympics are a thing of the past, weed eradication will still be a problem.
"If some money is not spent soon, all we will have left is weed-covered land. That is all our children and grandchildren will have left," said White.
White top and knapweed are great problems in this part of the state, said White. "If a little sales tax were raised statewide, then the money could be spent in each county."
Even the cost charged by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service for grazing fees could be raised, said White. Ranchers complain when fees are raised, but something must to be done about the weed problem that is destroying the rangeland and the farmland, he said.
For example, in 1956 there were less than 10 acres of knapweed, according to White. Now it infests thousands of acres.
County Commissioner Joseph Bernini said the county has an effective weed eradication program. County roadsides are sprayed, and farmers can pick up weed spray to use on properties in the spring.
Bob Garrett, Juab County weed control superintendent, said the commissioners should be complimented. "This commission has been good to put in a lot of money to control weeds. The state and federal government have been cooperating with us to get rid of noxious weeds."
Funds were allocated last year to begin a program to eradicate knapweed, he said.