BELLE — Maries County commissioners are reconsidering how and where roadside herbicides are used after learning the county’s insurance policy does not cover claims arising from herbicide application.

Eastern Commissioner Rodney Southard told the commission Aug. 31 that he had recently been contacted regarding an insurance claim involving damage to persimmon trees on property associated with Matt Richardson.

Southard said he was told the insurer was denying the claim because of an exclusion in the county’s policy.

“You know, we had an insurance claim on persimmon trees on Matt Richardson,” Southard said. “He called me the other day and said that they’re denying the claim because it’s, I guess, our policy excludes oils, herbicides and other chemicals on the application of it. So he said we won’t touch it because our policy excludes it.”

Southard said he had not yet contacted Richardson following the insurance company’s response.

The county was also waiting for written documentation confirming the exclusion.

“I was wanting to get the official document too,” Southard said. “Not just have to say something over a phone call. So yeah, know that our policy doesn’t include any of the herbicide spraying.”

The revelation led commissioners to question whether the county should continue spraying herbicides along roadsides if damage caused by the application is not insured.

Western District Commissioner Patrick Kleffner said he had not sprayed since the issue arose.

Southard said he began considering changes to the county’s spraying practices after learning about the insurance exclusion.

“I thought about it since he called and said that we weren’t covered, that if we continue, that we would not do it on any known yards or residences,” Southard said.

He suggested limiting spraying to more rural or wooded locations where there would be less risk of affecting private vegetation.

Commissioners also discussed avoiding hay fields or areas containing clover or alfalfa.

“We do selective spraying because there’s some areas I’ve been on that needed it,” Southard said.

Kleffner said spraying can be more efficient than repeatedly cutting roadside brush.

“It’s a lot quicker if you can cut it back and keep it sprayed,” Kleffner said. “You know you don’t have to cut it as often, and spraying’s a lot faster, a lot quicker.”

Presiding Commissioner Vic Stratman expressed greater concern about continuing the practice after hearing about the persimmon-tree claim. He questioned what other plants property owners could be cultivating near county roads that might be unintentionally damaged

“I’m kind of taken back by the persimmon thing,” Stratman said. “I mean, is somebody gonna say wild plums, elderberry… what are they cultivating out there that could be affected by the spray. Man, I would be really concerned about doing any spraying.”

Southard said most spraying for the current year appeared to be finished, but said the county could take a more limited approach next year.

“Next year it’s going to be pretty rural, pretty selective, I think, just to keep from harming anything,” Southard said.

County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers suggested avoiding spraying near residences altogether.

“Maybe we just shouldn’t spray in front of anyone’s…house,” Rodgers said.

Southard agreed that yards should be excluded but said he was not ready to eliminate roadside herbicide use entirely.

“There’s a lot of rural areas, it would be beneficial,” Southard said.

“I don’t want to completely quit, maybe, yet,” he added.

Commissioners did not take formal action on the county’s spraying practices during the meeting. The discussion indicated they plan to reconsider how herbicides are used before the next spraying season while seeking written confirmation of the county’s insurance coverage.