County commissioners Monday approved request to consider a “pro-active” mosquito spraying plan for the county.
Commissioner Laverne Coleman asked County Manager Eddie Madden if the county had started spraying for the bugs, which are generally worst after hurricanes and heavy rain events. August and September are considered the worst times for mosquito populations.
Stuart Carroll of County Facility services suggested the board consider adopting a more aggressive policy toward the pests. Carroll’s department was “shoulder tapped” into handling spraying this year, Madden told the board, because the Health Department staff has been overwhelmed with other non-seasonal duties.
“We are really, really green at this,” Carroll said. “We found out Thursday that we’d be doing this.”
Carroll said three services employees are certified to use the county’s spraying equipment, and work has started in a number of hard-hit areas. Complaints are filed with the Health Department and Environmental Health as they always have been, Carroll said, but those requests are then passed to Facility Services to make the spraying runs.
“When we were asked about it,” Carroll said, “my employees were very enthusiastic about helping.”
Commissioners Giles “Buddy” Byrd and Chair Rickey Bullard, both farmers, volunteered to help, after Byrd noted that he has a pesticide certification. Carroll explained that a commercial application license is different than those used by farmers.
“It’s a very extensive test,” he said.
Carroll suggested that the county consider a “pro-active” approach to mosquitos, setting up a regular spraying schedule as well as responding to complaints. Currently, he said, employees are paid overtime for spraying duties.
“I don’t know what the budget look is like for this,” he said, “but I wanted to suggest it.”
Madden noted that the worst of mosquito season is during storm season, and unless there is a hurricane or major weather event, spraying normally only happens for roughly two months out of the year. The additional overtime would be temporary.
Carroll also said the health department has a supply of the mosquito “dunks” that have proven effective in standing water such as ponds and ditches. The dunks are available to residents by request at the Environmental Health office on Webster Street.
