Brainerd will be taking a serious look at mosquito spraying for 2009.
The Brainerd City Council Monday approved the formation of a committee consisting of council members Bonnie Cumberland and Anne Nelson Fisher, city staffers and three city residents to explore the possibility of mosquito control.
The formation of the committee followed presentations Monday from two companies, Clearwater-based Clarke Mosquito Control and Fargo-based Skeet-R-Gone.
Clarke Mosquito Control provides spraying to several Minnesota cities as well as for individual customers in the Brainerd area. Their service provides mosquito larva control and mosquito adult control through fogging at night. Clarke would bypass residents or businesses who don't want their property fogged.
Skeet-R-Gone doesn't provide the service of spraying for mosquitoes, but does provide a non-toxic chemical that can be used in sprinkler systems, sprayed or dropped from the air to suppress mosquito populations.
Making the motion to form the committee was council member Bob Olson. He said having the committee doesn't automatically mean the city will be spraying for mosquitoes in 2009. Instead, the committee should meet to gauge public interest and to explore options with Clarke Mosquito Control, Skeet-R-Gone and other companies.
"There's been quite a bit of interest about the problem of mosquitoes," this year, Olson said. Council member Bonnie Cumberland said it anything were to be done in 2009, it would have to be decided quickly in order to be part of budget discussions this fall.
The city has discussed the possibility of spraying for mosquitoes several times in the past but has rejected the idea because of the costs involved. The issue was brought to the council this year by a north Brainerd resident who suggested the Mississippi River be sprayed for mosquitoes, which due to the late spring and instant summer heat this year resulted in a large hatch.
No meeting date was set for the mosquito control committee. Persons wishing to be on the committee should contact Brainerd City Hall at 828-2307.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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