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Aberdeen Plans to Squish Mosquitoes, West Nile Virus: City Parks Department Intends to Request More Money From Council

Posted on: Thursday, 30 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Emily Arthur, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Mar. 30--After a year in which Brown County reported the most West Nile cases in the state, Aberdeen officials are hoping a new mosquito control plan will help limit this year's numbers.

Last year, 43 cases of West Nile virus were reported in Brown County. In comparison, only two other South Dakota counties had more than seven -- Davison with 30 and Minnehaha with 13.

"Rather than mosquitoes just being a nuisance, it's really become a real health concern," said Doug Johnson, Aberdeen Parks and Recreation director.

In response to the high numbers, state health officials encouraged Aberdeen to be aggressive with its planning. So that's exactly what the city has done, said Mark Hoven, parks superintendent, who has taken the lead role in planning the mosquito operations.

Hoven attended the Mosquito Control National Conference in Detroit earlier this year and will attend another conference in Grand Forks, N.D., in April. He said education has been a big part of creating a plan that he believes will work for Aberdeen.

"We think it's important to look at other people and what they're doing," Hoven said. "There are cities not much bigger than Aberdeen that are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for mosquito control."

More money needed: Aberdeen probably won't go quite that far, but the parks department will be asking for more money from the city council than in previous years.

The city has hired a seasonal mosquito field supervisor at $11 an hour and will also need to purchase more chemicals and other materials that weren't previously budgeted for.

Last year, Aberdeen spent $75,841.33 -- including salaries -- on mosquito abatement. This year, $67,300 is budgeted, but the Parks and Rec Department estimates $72,155 more will be needed.

Grant would help: However, the city will also be applying for a state grant that could take care of up to half of the cost of the chemicals, approximately $34,250, as long as the city is willing to match what the state gives.

Johnson said the $34,250 would be the most ever given by the state, but that he believes the city, which received less than $4,000 last year, has a good shot at getting all or at least most of it. When the city finds out what amount of money will come through in the grant, which should happen sometime in middle to late April, Hoven and Johnson will come to the city council and ask for a budget supplement for the remaining dollars.

"I think people will be supportive of this," said Todd Campbell, city council member. "It's a matter of health. It's important we're doing it right."

Plan means increased spraying: Hoven said much of the new control plan involves surveillance, but it also will increase the spraying. Instead of doing the entire town in one night's time, he said it's likely north and south streets will be done one night and the east and west streets will be done the next.

"We think that will take care of more mosquitoes," he said. "Only one-third of the mosquitoes fly at one time."

Council member Lloyd Hodgin said that public relations also has to be a big part of the plan put forth.

"I don't want people walking away saying 'Good, the city is spending more money. Problem solved,'" he said. "I think there's an expectation that the city will handle it. We can't take care of people's backyards."

Reporter Emily Arthur; (605) 622-2314 or 1-800-925-4100 ext. 314; earthur@aberdeennews.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

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Source: American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

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