Commission votes to remove glyphosate from county right-of-way spraying options

The Cleveland County Commission approved an amended resolution to remove glyphosate from the county's list of chemicals authorized for rights-of-way spraying.

Speaker 10 presented the amendment, introduced by Commissioner Truitt, that would exclude glyphosate from all right-of-way spraying. Commissioners discussed practical and budget implications: Speaker 7 and others said alternatives exist but would likely raise treatment costs (estimates cited roughly doubling some line-item costs), and Speaker 9 urged a plan to remove certain early broad-spectrum treatments while continuing targeted woody-brush and broadleaf control in the near term. Commissioner 5 said the commission should see a comprehensive program before repeatedly voting on individual applications.

After discussion, the commission took a voice vote on the amended resolution; Speaker 1 called for the vote and the motion passed (voice vote recorded as 'Aye'). Staff indicated they would prepare a more detailed maintenance plan and possibly test a reduced-chemical approach this year, with a follow-up review later in the year.

The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally of individual votes. The resolution passed as a standalone policy decision to remove glyphosate from recommended right-of-way treatments, and staff were directed to outline alternatives, costs and a proposed implementation plan.