Neighborhood Cooperative Program

What is the program?

The Neighborhood Cooperative Program is a one-year grant from Benewah
County to landowners for the purpose of controlling noxious weeds.  Property

owners work with their neighbors to control noxious weeds in their areas,
and a percentage of the cost of herbicides is reimbursed to the landowners.
Veteran participants are encouraged to fertilized and re-seed and are also
eligible for reimbursement on those products.
 

A Neighborhood Cooperative must contain at least 2 landowners, whose
properties are adjourning each other.  A parcel map with participating landowners will be needed to complete the application.

• Applications are approved in the order received while funding is available.

• Keep the receipts for herbicides purchased, or, if having work done by a commercial applicator, be sure the applicator separates labor and herbicide costs.

• Our goal is to refund 80%* of the amount shown for herbicides on the invoices/receipts provided by Neighborhood Cooperatives.  Reimbursement requests must be turned in NO LATER THAN August 31st.

• Reimbursement checks generally take 2-4 weeks to be sent out.

• Please take "before and after" pictures of the treatment area.  These are helpful in providing visual evidence of work achieved to those who make the decisions in grant funding and budgets.

• Noxious Weed Control staff may perform spot checks throughout the cooperative to be sure products and treatments are working, and to determine if neighboring properties need to be notified to provide a weed-free buffer strip, take pictures, etc.

• Selective, broad-leaf control herbicides are preferred.  Our department does not recommend the use of non-selective herbicides (such as Roundup^® or glyphosate products) and soil sterilants.  However, depending upon your overall week control and land rehabilitation plan, these products can be used in certain situations.  If you need to use a non-selective product, please talk with on the the Department Weed Specialists.

* The refund amount is set by the decision of the Benewah County Commissioners.  The commitment of Benewah County to provide the cost-share reimbursement program depends on the ability of the County Commissioners to appropriate funds for this program; no refund guarantee can be made if the requests for reimbursement exceed the money budgeted for this program.  No commitment of funds can be made beyond the current budget year.

If you have any questions about this information, please call our office.  We will gladly provide the information you need.