Strategic Plan - Pest

MISSION
Our mission at the district is to provide a service to Ada County taxpayers to help abate the damage caused by gophers and yellow bellied marmots.

PHILOSOPHY
Since rodents can cause significant damage to water delivery systems, tree roots, cultivated crops, mechanical harvesting equipment and landscapings, we believe that limiting this threat will help our county citizens be more productive in their farming and gardening efforts.

VISION
With the growth of Ada County, large farms have started to give way to smaller, subdivided plots and even smaller building lots. We believe that while maintaining a high level of service to those with farms and ranches, we must also increase service to those with smaller lots. The dollar value of the improvements of these residential lots is much higher thus increasing the potential for loss due to damage to adjacent ditches. Gophers and Rockchucks can do significant financial damage to landscape plantings commonly found at Ada County residences.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

The following are the major issues and challenges impacting the organization, now and in the future. (Not prioritized)

1. With the current level of staffing in this department, it is not possible to adequately control the proliferation of gopher and marmot populations.
2. This department is experiencing difficulty in hiring temporary employees that have sufficient knowledge to perform the essential functions of the job for the salary offered.
3. Most of the Pest control employees are approaching seventy years of age and we are finding it difficult to find individuals that are willing to work in this department. I believe that as the current staff moves out of the work place finding individuals to replace them will be challenging.
4. Hiring crew leaders that can provide appropriate vehicles to transport crews to and from the fields safely.
5. Conditions such as rain or irrigation deactivate the bait that is currently used, increasing the repeat treatments to control the pest problems.

GENERAL GOALS

These represent the broad accomplishments the organization would like to achieve over the next several (3 to 5) years. (Not in priority order.)

1. To decrease the amount of damage caused by rodent infestation.
2. To establish a more positive public image.
3. To increase the level of expertise and knowledge of the department's employees.
4. Cut the response time for pest control calls.
5. Provide a safer means of transporting pest control crews and equipment.
6. Evaluate other bait sources or trapping for cost control and safety to applicator, landowner and environment.

1996 - 1997 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

Following are the organization's key objectives for FY 1996-1997. Under each, several actions are listed that are planned to achieve the objective.

1. To increase by 15%, the overall efficiency of this department by 12-31-96.

ACTIONS

* Employ qualified individuals that can work with little supervision.
* Review existing work methods.
* Establish standards that employ the most cost effective means of pest control.
* Train employees to the established standards.
* Develop a baseline from which to measure department progress.
* Hire an additional crew for the peak season.

2. To increase the safety margin by 10% through department education and training.

ACTIONS

* Develop a training plan.
* Assign experienced employees as trainers.
* Conduct quarterly training sessions.
* Increase the use of tutorial tools, such as video library, to train employees.
* Develop a baseline from which to measure progress of training efforts.
* Purchase four vehicles to transport crews and equipment.

3. To reduce by 15% the amount of repeat calls.

ACTIONS

* Determine effectiveness of alternate treatments for cost effectiveness.
* To ensure acreages being treated are having applications done timely with pesticides being used with optimum conditions and timing.
* Explore new methods and bait usages.

1998 - 2001 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

These represent the broad accomplishments the organization would like to achieve over the next several (3 to 5) years. (Not in priority order.)

1. To decrease the amount of damage caused by rodent infestation.
* Hire and additional crew for the peak season
* Employ qualified individuals that can work with little supervision.

2. To establish a more positive public image.

* Employ qualified individuals that can work with little supervision.
* Review existing work methods.
* Establish standards that employ the most cost effective means of pest control.
* Train employees to the established standards.
* Develop a baseline from which to measure department progress.
* Hire and additional crew for the peak season.

3. To increase the level of expertise and knowledge of the department's employees

* Develop a training plan.
* Assign experienced employees as trainers.
* Conduct quarterly training sessions.
* Increase the use of tutorial tools, such as a video library, to train employees.
* Develop a baseline from which to measure progress of training efforts

4. Cut the response time for pest control calls

* Employ qualified individuals that can work with little supervision.
* Review existing work methods.
* Establish standards that employ the most cost effective means of pest control.
* Train employees to the established standards.
* Develop a baseline from which to measure department progress.
* Hire and additional crew for the peak season.

5. Provide a safer means of transporting pest control crews and equipment

* Purchase 4 vehicles to transport crews and equipment.