By Jim Furman
The Prairie Dog Advisory Board met November 25th, at the Box Butte County Court House, in the county commissioner’s room at 4:00 PM for the purpose of reviewing the active prairie dog forced control that is taking place in Box Butte County. Members present were Mike Johnson, chairman, Lynn Placek, Tim Sherlock and Shawn Hunter. Jim Furman was not present. The active complaint list was reviewed. The active forced control was decided to be monitored for a while longer, as we are in the season where legal prairie dog bait can be distributed to the active prairie dog holes. There were no new complaints and one old complaint that was tabled for review until the December meeting.
Active complaints are still being accepted by the board for review. It is legal to poison from October 1 of each year, until March 15, of the following year. While it is important to plan for the season at this time, the board will continue to meet every 4th Wednesday of the month unless it is determined by the chairman that there is no business to transact, no planning is necessary, nor complaints to be acted upon at that time.
The board reviewed the updated complaint form and accepted it going forward. Tim Sherlock and Shaun Hunter are willing to serve another term on the board. This will be discussed and decided at the reorganization meeting in January after the first of the year. If any other county residents would like to be considered for a board position, please come to the December meeting to express their interest, or stop by the County Clerk’s office and apply.
Brett Lauder will once again have Prairie Dog bait for sale at a reduced price for the county residence. Brett can be reached at 308-760-3701. There was nothing to report for the Community Education or Subcommittee.
The Agenda for the meetings can be viewed at the County Clerk’s office and the next meeting date is set for December 22, (that will be a Monday, due to the holiday) in the commissioner’s room in the County Court House at 4:00 PM. Future meetings will be published in the Alliance Times Herald. All meetings are open to the public and interested persons are encouraged to attend.