The comments in blue on this page represent Jack Liebenthal's view of the activities of the Teton County Mosquito Abatement District and does not necessarily reflect the view of other members of the Board of Trustees nor any County official.

 The following status report and request was formally presented to the Teton County, Idaho Commissioners and it summarizes the activities of Mosquito Abatement in the County.

Teton County Mosquito Abatement District Status Report to the Board of County Commissioners

Accomplishments to date:
The Teton County Mosquito Abatement District was established September 8, 2008 by Teton County, Idaho following passage of a ballot initiative on May 27, 2008.  The primary function of the District is to protect the public's health and safety from mosquito-borne diseases and as public health protection is fulfilled to reduce pest mosquito populations.
 
The Teton County Mosquito Abatement District Board of Trustees held its first meeting in September 2008 and has met at least monthly since.  Greg Adams was formally appointed as District Director by the Board in December 2008.The District in December prepared a draft Pest Management Plan (attachment 1) as a basis for developing an abatement program and has revised it as new information developed. The Board believes that the priorities for the initial two years' operation are:
        
  • establishment of the basis for a complete program
  • activities that facilitate long term effectiveness
  • larval and adult control of mosquitoes that spread West Nile and other diseases
  • source control and larval control of mosquitoes generally within the County
  • control of adult pest mosquitoes.
 The District issued a Request for Proposal to companies that provide mosquito abatement services January 23, 2009.  It also authorized the Director to develop an in-house program.  Bids from two vendors, Vector Disease Control Incorporated and Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management, were received and opened along with an in-house proposal on February 18, 2009.  Both vendors have performed mosquito management for other Idaho counties.  The in-house proposal involves support from John Holick, the mosquito abatement manager for the Jackson Weed and Pest.  Evaluation of bids will take place before the projected award of a contact on March 18, 2009; however, award is contingent upon obtaining funds.
The Value of a 2009 start to the program
West nile spreading habits

•        WNV seems to surge rapidly and then subside
•        Cold winters have saved us up till now
•        Winters are getting warmer
•        We could have our surge in future years
•        We should be vigilant, that is, we should monitor and control our risk
What are our odds?
•        WNV seems to surge and then subside
•        Have we had a surge?  Maybe not
•        Cold winters have saved us up till now
•        Winters are getting warmer
•        We could have our surge in future years
•        We should be vigilant, that is, we should monitor, have a viable program in place to control our risk
Is it worth it?
•        One West Nile nervous system infection can cost >$100,000
•        One indigent case might cost the County or hospital that much
•        Elderly people die of the W Nile Neuroinvasive Disease, and the County is getting more and more elderly
•        Just on cost, 2 un-reimbursed cases/year pay the bills
Strategy
•        Make disease prevention the first priority
•        Do good surveillance
•        Use the resources to control mosquitoes generally, with emphasis on disease carriers and be ready for a disease outbreak
•        We reduce the pest population and protect against a West Nile invasion
Funding
The Teton County Mosquito Abatement District will begin receiving funds from taxes in 2010 and seeks to secure a loan for its initial operation.  The intent of the board is to have effective operations established by the start of the 2009 mosquito season.  Assurance of funding in the month of March is necessary to meet this objective.
Repayment of a loan would be financed by reducing the funds available for subsequent years' operation. Unless there is a major outbreak of mosquito borne disease in the County, an effective program will result from funding about half the annual maximum levy amount.
The ballot specified a maximum tax levy of .02% (.0002) on all real property within the County  If this levy were applied to the 2008 taxable real property value plus new construction, about $500,000 is projected.  Based upon arrears of 25% in the first year, 375k$ would be available for the first two year contract.

The priorities above allow for scale-down of control measures if necessary or prioritizing toward disease control if necessary to stay within budget.  All proposers have expressed a willingness to negotiate the scope if necessary.

Request to County Commission

The Teton County Mosquito Abatement District requests from Teton County a loan to cover the first years' operation.  It has passed resolutions to ask for a loan and to prepare the way to replace the loan with a tax anticipation note (Attached).We would convert the loan into a revenue anticipation loan once a levy for the district is made.  If tax receipts were much reduced, a small part of the loan might need to be renewed in fall 2010 and paid off in December of 2010.


The request omits the fact that a loan from Wells Fargo Bank to the District through the County was requested by County officers, and that a loan from the County would have been backed by that loan.

The County Commissioners denied the request of the Mosquito Ababtement District, and the District later learned that neither of the two Banks chose to make a loan.

The district is continuing to try to find a way to start operations in the 2009 fiscal year, either with a minimal program or a full program.
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