Earle looking to outsource mosquito control

Earle looking to outsource mosquito control

Councilman: ‘ We need some help now’

news@theeveningtimes.com

Earle may seek outside help to better keep mosquitoes under control.

The city has been spraying regularly for mosquitoes, but city officials expressed an interest in doing other things to help keep the pesky insects in check.

“We need some help now,” said Councilman Donnie Cheers. “We don’t need to wait.”

Earnest English of Vector Disease Control told the city council that although it is late in the season — mosquito control usually ends in October or November — the company could put together a mosquito control package based on the city’s needs that could still be helpful.

Vector has the largest fleet of spray trucks for adult mosquitoes, but also offers disease testing, aerial spraying, larvicide spraying in tire piles, swales, retention ponds, ditches, and neighborhood backyard source reduction campaigns.

“I will get a sales rep to come out and map the city and get you a price on a contract and get some feed back from you on what you want,” English said.

Cheers said he is particularly interested in having Vector do some aerial spraying.

“At nighttime when we had aerial spraying, I think it was more effective,” Cheers said.

Mayor Carolyn Jones agreed.

“We know it is more effective,” Jones added.

Vector currently does aerial spraying for West Memphis, Blytheville, Jonesboro and Tunica.

Aerial spraying reaches areas that are either difficult or to large to treat just by truck spraying.

At the end of each spraying data is downloaded from the aircraft and Vector generates reports to the city showing the areas which were sprayed and other statistics from each spraying.

English said they do three sprayings for Tunica for $28,000. “We just sprayed West Memphis and Tunica this past weekend,” English said.

Councilwoman Jimmie Barham said Earle used to contract for aerial spraying but had to stop because the city could no longer afford it.

“We had to quit because it was too expensive,” Barham said.

Councilman Robert Malone said residents also complained that the chemical got on their cars.

“They said it wasn’t any good,” Malone said. “They called it fly by night.”

Councilman Kenneth Cross said he would be in favor of hiring Vector.

“They do a good job,” Cross said. “They even come out door-to-door. I think this would be a big deal if we can get this.”

Barham asked English to get them some cost estimates so they can plan for mosquito control services in the next city budget.

“If we can get this when we start our budget in November this will give us an idea so we can think about it if we can possibly put it in the budget,” Barham said. “We had to stop because we didn’t have the funds.”

“I will have a sales rep come down,” English said. “There are some things we can do for Earle.”

By Mark Randall