'Bare-ground' spraying for noxious weeds a focus of commission discussion
- Charlene Sims, Journal staff
- May 20
- 7 min read
By Charlene Sims, Journal staff
MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commissioners heard a complaint on Monday, May 18, from Blue Mound resident Mack Carlisle about roadsides that were left bare from spraying.
Noxious Weed Director Johnny Taylor explained the process that had led to bare-ground spraying. He said that he hoped not to have to use that method this year.
Carlisle, who had been in to express his concerns about the spraying a year ago, said that on May 8 of this year as he was driving along the road he saw areas that had broadleaf weeds wilting and thought that it was a little early to be spraying this year.
Carlisle told the commissioners that he had seen quite a bit of erosion around culverts and guardrails last year because of the spraying. He said it was hard enough to get new topsoil and that he didn’t like the chemicals washing into the waterways either.
Carlisle said that he thought that the county had decided to work on this issue last year but he doesn’t think they’ve made any progress whatsoever.
Commission Chair Alison Hamilton asked Taylor to explain his side.
Taylor at first read a statement that he had prepared that he said would answer some of Carlisle’s question. He read from the statement:
“The main goal to roadside spraying is to fulfill the obligation that Linn County has to controlling and eradicating the state’s recognized noxious weeds from our rights of way so as not to spread them onto residents’ property who also have an obligation to be in control of eradicating those noxious weeds.
“Every summer starting just after the Fourth of July, we start noticing a growth spurt of Johnson grass. The last two summers especially have had numerous resident complaints and service requests about this problem to the point of having residents stopping us on the road to verbalize their disapproval of 5-foot to 6-foot tall Johnson grass that was going to seed.
“Both in 2024 and 2025, I spoke with my supervisors. In 2024 it was Shaun West, in 2025 it was Jesse Walton, about the complaints most of which were from a lack of mowing. Lack of mowing was a shortage of personnel, seasonal mowers and broken down equipment. One year even requiring the leasing of a tractor to finish the end of summer mowing.
“Both years it was a joint decision and also discussed here before the commissioners last year that to satisfy the numerous complaints of residents, the noxious weed department would use 'bare ground' mix which was the most effective spray method to eradicate Johnson grass infestations on roadsides throughout the county.
“Some of those areas of Johnson grass infestation that were sprayed last year can still be seen this spring. But for the record, we have done zero bare-ground spraying of any roadsides in 2026. As a matter of fact, this spring spray season, we have started what is referred to as a plant growth regulator program.
“I consulted with one of our chemical vendors to some up with a chemical mix that would accomplish two things, it eradicates broadleaf and woody noxious weeds, thistle, teasel and
Sericea lespedeza and slows down the vertical growth of cool weather grasses. Thus reducing the early mowing frequency while redirecting plant energy to roots for thicker, healthier grasses on roadsides later in the season. And that also, especially with the price of fuel right now, when I discussed this plant growth program with Jesse, he was very excited about.
“One more benefit that we are hoping to see from this roadside mix. Johnson grass is at its beginning stages now. It will be slowed down enough to be controlled by mechanical control, commonly known as mowing. As far as continued use of chemical control of mature Johnson grass infestations, using the only effective method of ‘bare ground’ spraying, my hope is that we are able to control by mechanical method or mowing, this season. But as I did in the past, if those infestations become a widespread nuisance, I will consult with the powers that be what direction or method we want to use to fulfill our legal obligation to control and eradicate the Johnson grass on our county owned roadsides.”
Taylor told the commissioners that information he had seen about the growth regulator plan was that it could cut down mowings from four to three per year. He pointed out that this could cut down on personnel hours, machinery hours and fuel costs and be beneficial to the county monetarily and man hours.
Taylor spoke to Carlisle saying that some of what he may be seeing with browning weeds is broadleaf weeds, which while not designated noxious weeds by the state, are targeted by the growth regulator plan.
“This program will take time,” said Taylor.
Taylor said that he respects a person’s right to ask that their right of way not be sprayed, but that then becomes that person’s legal responsibility to control and eradicate the noxious weeds down on that right of way.
Taylor concluded, “ I just have to form a balance between, like I said I didn’t enjoy these long patches of burned up Johnson grass, but like I said at the time it was a hot topic.”
Taylor reiterated that his department had not done any “bare ground” spraying of culverts, bridges or roadways in 2026. He said last year was the last of any “bare ground” spraying they had done on roadsides.
Commissioner Jim Johnson said, “From the bare ground even today, there are places out there where we’ve killed everything and it’s still not coming up. I personally think that we’re a little erratic in the way we spray. I think we could do it with a hand boom rather than a boom on the front of the truck.”
Taylor said the results would be the same. If you are spraying for Johnson grass it kills everything.
Johnson argued, “Fifty feet out though, you don’t have to kill everything fifty feet out is what I’m saying.”
Taylor said there was no way that he had sprayed anything 50 feet out. He said if he had wind behind it he could get 20. He said the nozzle was designed for 15 feet.
“It wasn’t a Johnny idea to let’s go put bare patches all over the county,” said Taylor. "It was a Johnny consulted with powers that be and said I’ve got 17 service requests for complaints and getting pulled over on the side of the road because of Johnson grass.
“And that year was exceptional, several things, it was like the perfect storm. What I was told we had nobody applying for the seasonal mowing jobs. The mowers we have are broke down. We had to lease a mower. That’s why this stuff isn’t mowed. That’s why we’re behind in getting these complaints.”
Taylor continued, “Those are the reasons, what do you want me to do about it? When I spray it’s going to be ugly.”
Johnson said moving forward is there something else to do because he did not want to use the bare ground method.
“So are you going to answer to the state?” asked Taylor. “I had residents that said that they were going to turn us in if we did not control the noxious weed that we were supposed to control.”
“Personally, I do not see the bare response that we have here in Linn County in other counties,”said Johnson.
Taylor replied, “That has nothing to do with anything. They must keep their mowing done. You can control Johnson grass. Your entire front yard could be full of Johnson grass and you know why you never care? You mow it.”
The discussion became more heated as Johnson said that he had messed with Johnson grass in his life. And Taylor said, “I’m not trying to insult you Jim, don’t take it personal.”
Johnson answered, “Don’t make it personal.”
“I didn’t make it personal, sir, if you would let me finish. But what you presented to me that other counties don’t do it as if I’m doing something that other counties don’t do. They control theirs with mowing,” said Taylor.
Taylor said that the state mows but does not spray and he could take anyone to see the teasel and the musk thistle along the state highways. He pointed out that the west side of the county did not have a big teasel or musk thistle problem like the east side.
Taylor told Johnson that if the county would mow Johnson grass that he would not spray
bare-ground and he did not have any problem with that.
Taylor said the state does a better job on their mowing. He said he hopes that the mowers in Linn County would get out and he would not have to do bare-ground spraying of Johnson grass.
Commission Chair Alison Hamilton said she agreed with Taylor on the mowing situation because the county had the issue last year where Prescott never got mowed the whole entire summer.
Hamilton pointed out the getting gWorks up and running the county was supposed to be able to monitor mowing schedules but that has not been set up. Hamilton said GIS/Mapping was supposed to be able show the commissioners which roads had been worked on and where mowing was being done but that had not happened yet either.
“I am not saying you should stop doing anything. I know what you are talking about. The grass was over the stop signs (around Prescott). So if our mowers aren’t getting there and it becomes a hazard for traffic, it’s a liability for the county,” said Hamilton.
Taylor said he had had dozens of line-of-sight requests that he had to take care of chemically because they were not mowed.
“You have an obligation to the state and we support you in that and I don’t feel like we can tell you to stop you from doing your job according to state statute that you have agreed to,” said Hamilton. “We need to come back in a couple of weeks and have a longer discussion about it.”
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