Indianola citizens don’t need an expert to tell them there is a mosquito problem in the city, but there is indeed a new abatement service in town that is trying to get a handle on the pests.
Jeff Greenlee, with America’s Choice Chemical Company, spoke to the mayor and board of aldermen this past Monday night about what his crews have taken note of in just a few weeks of mitigation.
“It’s pretty bad,” Greenlee said, mainly speaking of the city’s lagoon area and other hotspots.
The city began to use America’s Choice after severing ties with Vector Disease Control for allegedly not reporting a positive West Nile Virus test from one of the company’s local traps to the city.
America’s Choice was officially hired by the board on Monday night.
Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone made mention that he had seen America’s Choice trucks out spraying, and it appeared they were going at a slow pace, with a thick cloud of spray.
“We’re not going back and trying to get the job done quick, we’re trying to get the job done right,” Greenlee said. “That’s why you’re seeing our trucks going at the speed they are supposed to go.”
Greenlee said his crews are looking for areas where mosquitoes are breeding.
“We’re trying to find the hotspots right now. We’ve found a few,” he said.
One is at the before mentioned lagoon, and another is near Janet Davis Circle.
Greenlee said his crews witnessed prime growing conditions for mosquitoes at the lagoon.
He also said his crew trapped disease-carrying mosquitoes while out there.
“They were all very young,” he said.
The solution? Growth regulators that are supposed to last up to 150 days.
“They are very effective,” Greenlee said. “We’re going to see a difference quickly.”
Ward 4 Alderman Marvin Elder brought up the area around Wiggins Road as a hotspot for the pests.
Greenlee said his crews are spraying the area around Indian Bayou multiple times, and he said they will be spraying the area around Janet Davis Circle multiple times as well.
Elder noted the field behind Janet Davis needed to be kept cut to help stave off the mosquitoes.
