BROOKINGS Mosquitoes were all the buzz at Tuesday mornings Brookings County Commission meeting: While commissioners werent slapping at them, they were busy discussing the countys role in controlling the blood-hungry insects population, which has been booming.
The issue was brought up by Weed & Pest Department Supervisor Misty Moser, who said her department has fielded questions regarding mosquito fogging services the county provides.
Weve been spraying mosquitoes for several summers, Moser said, noting that the current price is $100 for a large acreage and an association, and $50 for a regular acreage. With the wetter summers were experiencing, weve received several calls for mosquitoes.
The services are conducted later in the evening, generally starting between 9:30 and 10 p.m. and wrapping up around 2 a.m. The goal of treatment is to have just the right amount of wind to get the fog into the vegetation, since thats where the buggers hide.
My question to you commissioners is would we like to formalize a pricing with a resolution? she asked, noting that she included proposed wording for it in her paperwork. (Do you) want the Weed & Pest Department to continue fogging for mosquitoes?
Moser said the county currently has four associations and eight acreages that request fogging services at least once per year, and sometimes twice. If a resolution is eventually passed which it was not at Tuesday mornings meeting she said shed like to maintain current pricing for the remainder of this year, then raise the price for next years services.
This is where the debate began, with commissioners offering their thoughts, going back and forth with each other and listening to feedback from Moser and others.
Its a great service that we provide to the county, if residents and associations call and we can provide it, Commissioner Shawn Hostler said. The price should cover materials and time. Its not something we need to make money on, but we need to cover our expenses. If we can figure out what thats going to be, I think thats what the pricing should be for that.
Commissioner Dave Miller, agreeing with Hostlers rationale, then asked, Whats the reasoning for needing to go and make this official? Its a service we just provide.
Moser said the issue came up because there was an individual asking for free fogging services. We cant do that, so we need to have something set in stone so this issue does not come up anymore, she said.
Commissioner Doug Post noted that mosquito fogging services isnt something the county can equitably provide for everyone in the county. Underscoring his point, he said people who are aware of the countys program would benefit from it, while those who werent would wind up paying the private-sector rate for similar services from businesses.
We just dont have the staff or equipment to do it for everyone. If we do it at a low price just costs in materials then therell be enough people coming out of the woodwork, well have to do everywhere, he explained. On the other hand, we dont want to be undercutting private business theres people out here providing this service in the county and other places. Its not the governments job to provide this service if were not going to provide it for the whole county.
Post concluded, Its just very difficult to provide an equitable plan that covers the county and doesnt undercut private business.
Miller said that while not undercutting private businesses is a priority for him, another concern he cannot ignore is health, particularly with West Nile Virus, a disease that mosquitoes carry and can transmit to humans.
Thats the big thing that comes up with me seems like we should make that available, he said about mosquito treatments.
So are we going to spray the whole county then? Post replied. When do we stop and when do we start? Those are the questions we need to figure out.
I get it. Thats a good point, Miller said.
Why do we want to undercut private businesses that might want to provide this service? Post continued. If were doing this at cost, and they need to make a profit, thats not governments job to
I get what youre saying and agree with that, but is there somebody thats doing that? Miller said. If were undercutting somebody if theres somebody out there offering that service, then I dont want to do that. But if theres nobody doing that.
Commissioner Kelly VanderWal echoed Millers worries regarding WNV, and also pointed out that he wasnt aware of anyone in the county currently offering such services.
Most landscaping outfits are so busy right now, they cant get to the tasks that they have in front of them, he said.
VanderWal also noted that the mosquito fogging equipment, which is more than 20 years old, doesnt appear to need much in the way of maintenance.
I think the fee structure is a little light, he said. If were paying employees overtime, were not covering our costs on that.
Responding to VanderWals concerns, Moser said that the work generally doesnt involve overtime. What happens is the employee doing the treatment say, over a three-hour period at night will simply work a shorter day later in the week, typically on a Friday. Right now, she said there are six requests from county residents for fogging services.
Commission Department Director Stacy Steffensen spoke up as well, saying that at some point the countys supply of mosquito-control chemicals which its had on hand since 2019-20, and received via grant dollars will run out, and that grant money is no longer available to replenish the supply. She further noted that the fogging machine is 25 years old and will need replacement at some point. Those factors could impact the price of whatever services the county offers in the future.
If the county is going to be in the business of fogging for mosquitoes, your decision, just know there are going to be costs associated with that, she said.
Moser said that, for what its worth, she does have a quote for a new mosquito fogging machine, and it comes in at approximately $13,000.
As the discussion drew to a close, Commissioner Larry Jensen noted that no formal action was possible Tuesday on Mosers proposed wording for a resolution, and that in the meantime the county should continue with what its been doing to help control mosquito populations.
Right now its prime time that they want this done, he said.
Looking ahead, Jensen said Brookings County can examine what other counties are doing, update pricing policies, and also look into Posts concerns regarding competition with the private sector.
Samara Avenue
In other business Tuesday, commissioners learned of a hiccup in getting the three-phase, joint city/county reconstruction project underway on Samara Avenue in Volga.
Basically, Brookings-based Bowes Construction is facing at least a four-week delay in receiving prefabricated storm sewer boxes, and thats affecting Phase 1 of the project. As such, commissioners gave the go-ahead to starting first with Phase 2 after learning that was what the Volga City Council went with at its Monday night meeting.
Samara Avenue is now set to close on Thursday, so keep that in mind, motorists and residents alike, if youre in or near Volga.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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