Grentz, Johnson honored for decades of service to county's Noxious Weed Control Board
Photo: Joe Grentz, right, receives a certificate of appreciation from Commissioner Shon Smith at the Jan. 6 Board of County Commissioners meeting. Grentz served 38 years on the Chelan County Noxious Weed Control Board.
The Chelan County Noxious Weed Control Board seeks to fill an at-large position in its District B. The successful candidate would serve a four-year term on the board, which meets four times a year. Potential candidates must reside in the Entiat, Chelan or Manson areas. Ideally, candidates will have experience in the agriculture industry; however, this is not a requirement. If you would like to be considered, fill out the application and return it using the address on the application. If you have any questions, call the office at 509-667-6576.
Joe Grentz of Monitor recalls the puncture vine being so thick in places 40 years ago in Chelan County that it was becoming a regular nuisance in people’s daily lives.
Along the Icicle-Peshastin Irrigation ditch, motorbikes were carrying the pesky, painful and abundant burrs 22 miles up and down the ditch. Puncture vine, called goatheads by locals, was thriving in alleyways and along the railroad tracks in Wenatchee as well as in the county’s canyons and orchards.
“It took us many years to finally subdue this puncturevine,” said Grentz, a founder of the Chelan County Noxious Weed Control Board.
Grentz and James Johnson were honored at a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting for their decades of service to the Chelan County Noxious Weed Control Board. Grentz served 38 years on the board, acting as chairman for several of those years. Johnson, who was unable to attend the meeting, served 32 years on the board. Both stepped down last year.
Commissioners thanked Grentz and Johnson for their leadership and dedication on the board, honoring them with certificates of appreciation and a commemorative county coin.
“Thirty-eight years is an incredible assistance to the community, and to see a volunteer step forward, see a need and fill a position is what we are about,” County Commissioner Shon Smith said at the meeting. “I’m very proud of and grateful for your service.”
Speaking after the meeting, Adam Pfleeger, coordinator of the noxious weed control program, said his department is profoundly grateful for the men’s expertise, leadership and passion over the years.
"The success of our fight against invasive species is rooted in the unwavering commitment of people like Joe and James,” Pfleeger said. “Their decades of service – 70 years combined – have been a cornerstone of our efforts to protect Chelan County's ecosystems, leaving a lasting legacy of resilience and stewardship."
Grentz has deep roots in the local fruit tree industry, with his father coming to the area in the early 1900s to plant pear, apple and cherry trees in the rocky ground of Monitor. He is still farming today on 55 acres his family originally owned.
In Chelan County, the noxious weed control board was initiated by a petition circulated by Grentz and other supporters. In the late 1980s, most noxious weed control efforts were occurring on the west side of the state. The Chelan County board was one of the first established on the east side, Grentz said.
In those first few years, board members could be seen out spraying for noxious weeds. They would get a phone call about noxious weeds in a canyon and head out to take care of it, said Grentz, who has also chaired the Chelan County Board of Equalization.
Today, the noxious weed control program is mandated by the state to eradicate or control 116 types of noxious weeds. The program has four employees who spend their summers seeking out noxious weeds. Five people sit on the noxious weed control board, which meets four times a year.
Looking back, Grentz said he is proud of the role he played in his community and the local farming industry.
“Noxious weeds are not only a hazard but a pure nuisance to our quality of life,” he said. “I hope I brought function and structure to the board. I never wanted to be pushy but I wanted to be involved and make a difference.”
Last Updated: 02/07/2025 09:40 AM
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