Chapter 3.65
ASSESSMENT LEVIED FOR COORDINATING NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL
Sections:
3.65.010 Purpose and findings.
3.65.040 Lien against property.
3.65.010 Purpose and findings.
The noxious weed control board is organized under Chapter 17.10 RCW to coordinate the management of noxious weeds in order to prevent, control, or mitigate the spread of these species to protect human health, livestock, wildlife, native habitat, and ecosystem functioning in ecological as well as economical terms. “Noxious weeds” are those plants which are highly destructive, competitive, and/or difficult to control by cultural, chemical, mechanical, biological, or other management techniques, and which are regulated by the state of Washington under Chapter 17.10 RCW and listed under Chapter 16-750 WAC.
The noxious weed board finds the need for noxious weed control exists within Jefferson County and the Jefferson County board of county commissioners accepts that finding and incorporates same herein.
RCW 17.10.240 authorizes the Jefferson County board of commissioners to levy an assessment against all benefiting land for noxious weed control purposes.
The Jefferson County board of commissioners finds that the public interest will be served by the imposition of the special assessments made under this legislation, and that the special assessments to be imposed on any land will not exceed the special benefit that the land receives or will receive from the activities of the Jefferson County noxious weed control board. [Ord. 7-15 § 1]
3.65.020 Land classification.
The Jefferson County noxious weed control board has classified land in Jefferson County pursuant to the requirements outlined in RCW 17.10.240. The classifications of land subject to assessment are defined as forest and nonforest as provided in Attachment A to the ordinance codified in this chapter which by this reference is incorporated herein. [Ord. 7-15 § 2]
3.65.030 Rate.
An assessment for the Jefferson County noxious weed control program of $4.00 per parcel and $0.30 per acre on all property not classified as forest land shall be imposed annually. Under RCW 17.10.240 forest lands may be subject to an annual noxious weed assessment that does not exceed one-tenth of the weighted average of the per acre and per parcel rate levied on other lands that are subject to the weed assessment. Property classified as forest land, as defined in RCW 84.33.035, which is used solely for the planting, growing or harvesting of trees and which is typified, except for a single five-year period following clear-cut logging, by canopies so dense as to prohibit the growth of an understory shall be assessed at the rate of $0.40 per parcel and $0.03 per acre. [Ord. 7-15 § 3]
3.65.040 Lien against property.
The amount of such assessment shall constitute a lien against any property for which the assessment has not been paid by the date it is due, as provided in RCW 17.10.240. A notice of lien shall be sent to each owner of such property.
All liens created shall be collected by the Jefferson County assessor-treasurer in the same manner as delinquent real property tax pursuant to RCW 17.10.240(1), if within 30 days from the date of when the owner is sent notice of the lien, including the amount thereof, the lien remains unpaid and an appeal has not been made pursuant to RCW 17.10.180.
All liens created shall bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum and such interest shall accrue as of the date notice of the lien is sent to the property owner.
The county shall have a lien for delinquent special assessments, including interest thereon, against any property subject to special assessments; the lien shall be superior to all other liens and encumbrances except general taxes and local and special assessments. Such liens shall be effective and shall be enforced and foreclosed in the manner provided by RCW 17.10.240. [Ord. 7-15 § 4]
3.65.050 Special fund.
There is hereby created in the treasury of Jefferson County the noxious weed control fund in which all funds collected from the assessment herein levied shall be deposited and which shall only be used to support the activities of the noxious weed control board. [Ord. 7-15 § 5]