Weed Notes: Sept 5

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By Sid Lewis

      Supervisor

Thursday, Aug. 21 we held the second meeting of the year for Midwest Weed District. The first was Jan. 9, a span of seven months; I always find it a challenge giving a report of the activities to keep it interesting and short enough, yet not too short to sound as though I twiddle my thumbs a lot. I can hear my “chief critic” having fun with this!

 

Forced amalgamation was discussed in a lot of detail as to what we perceive the changes will be for this job in 2015. Anytime I gave my thoughts as how to work with the system, I was saying, “This is the way I think we will work with it,” and right away board members would pick up on it and say, “So you are staying next year!” Unfortunately the answer was no, because I feel it is time to hang up the sprayer wand so to speak. May 1 will be the last for me, and as Don Kennedy, the previous person hired did for me, I will, when asked, give my support to the new person.

One real concern I have is the size the new territory in 2015. With the addition of the area known now as RM of Saskatchewan and the hopes of the now RM of Woodworth wanting to stay with Midwest Weed District, plus the towns of Rapid City and Rivers added as well, that is a fair chunk of territory to cover in all aspects of a weed management program. I figure it is a real feather in the district’s hat for the council of Woodworth to think we are offering a very sound program for them. The experiences I have had working with all councillors in that municipality since 1979 has been top notch in my books as well.

We have in the Lewis family the honour of our middle son marrying a super girl later in September this year. When I took the little missus to Tonya’s shower and after dropping Terry off at Basswood Hall, I took a little tour. As far as I understand, the northeast  corner of Saskatchewan municipality now is two miles east and four miles north of Basswood. At that point, thinking the southeast point of the new district would then be two miles from Brandon, and the southwest corner a couple of miles from Virden, whether using the old math I am comfortable with or the new math my sons understand, I realize that is a very large area! As in other municipal systems when new governments take over, Midwest Weed District will need additional people to cover the area and provide a sound, viable weed control district. Think this will cost more than what our current budget is?

As always at this point in the column, I try to give some comedy relief; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but I will give it a whirl. Everyone who has said marriage vows at the altar will remember the words, “For better or for worse.” With Terry and me, I married the better, and she married the worse! Recently when filling our van with gas at a station, the girl who was filling the tank came over to Terry’s side and said, “I just have to meet the poor girl who is married to this man!”

If you have any questions for Midwest Weed District please phone 204-764-2128.