Road and Bridge officials told the Neosho County Commission that weather drives large swings in road maintenance costs and that the department must conservatively budget for rock purchases, while county staff discussed workforce and service changes for the solid-waste and noxious-weed programs.

Greg, a Road and Bridge representative, said his budget remained “pretty much the same” as last year but warned that wet weather can force large unplanned purchases. He recalled February 2019 when heavy rainfall required hiring extra truckers and spending “close to a half a million dollars” not in his budget, forcing a year-end amendment to cover the cost.

Greg described recent operational changes at the solid-waste site — reduced hours and routing to save county funds — which have reduced costs while requiring staff to occasionally unlock the site to accommodate large loads. On the noxious-weed program, commissioners and staff said they face hiring challenges: qualified private contractors often command higher pay and some counties do not employ a full-time weed director because private-sector pay is higher and the role can be part‑time in smaller counties.

Speaker 8, a county commissioner, noted a state statute requires counties to have a noxious-weed director, and the commission discussed whether to pursue a full-time hire, a temporary solution, or continue a voucher program that issues chemical vouchers to residents. The voucher program remains active, and staff are exploring partnerships and applications to cover seasonal needs.

No formal action was taken; commissioners requested staff continue recruiting and report back. The budget items were presented as part of the work session and will be incorporated into the commission’s broader budget deliberations.