Politics & Government
Fenton Approves Mosquito Control Contract for 2011
Department of Public Works employees will place larval control briquettes to help save money
Bzzzz, bzzz, slap, squish.
Spring in Michigan has returned, and so have the mosquitoes. approved its 2011 agreement with Advanced Pest Management (APM), of Fenton, for $33,796.
It will include spraying to kill adult mosquitoes, Mayor Sue Osborn said.
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Larval control is priced at $6,900, with adult mosquito control at $26,896. APM will bill the city in four equal installments of $6,759, with the final invoice adjusted for the actual work the firm performs.
In earlier years, the mosquito control program cost $54,000. However, since 2008, Fenton has cut its budget for the program to $30,000-$40,000, City Manager Lynn Markland said. This year, to save money, Fenton Department of Public Works (DPW) employees will treat catch basins of water for mosquitoes. DPW Director Daniel Czarnecki has the permit the city needs, and it will take place in early- to mid-June.
Find out what's happening in Fentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
APM will perform the other phases of the mosquito control program.
Councilman Benjamin Smith voted against it, with the vote being 5-1 since Councilwoman Cheryl King was absent. After the meeting, Smith said he voted no because he believes Fenton needs to go a year with no mosquito spraying. Then people will understand what they are getting for the money the city is spending. Last year, council discussed a mosquito control millage, and this idea has died, Smith said.
The mosquito control millage never made it onto the ballot.
APM also provides mosquito control in the city of Linden and Fenton Township.
