A decision to take some of the bite out of the impending mosquito season was tabled on a 3-2 vote Monday night during the Indianola Board of Aldermen meeting.
Jeff Greenlee of America’s Choice Chemical Company rolled out his proposed plan to the city leaders and after a discussion and several questions, the aldermen said they needed additional time to research it.
The six-month plan called for not only treating the city’s five wards on a rotating schedule, but also trapping and testing the persistent pests to expedite an earlier and more thorough kill on the disease-carrying insects.
“We’re going to follow a very strenuous state program,” Greenlee said.
He is initially proposing to cover two wards per night, three days each week beginning in May until peak season kicks off and then increase to three wards per night, three days per week.
“We’re here to serve y’all, what you need we’re going to take care of,” said Greenlee. He said the city would get reports each month of every task that his company performed.
Alderman Sam Brock asked for a performance and price comparison between the existing city-conducted mosquito program and the proposed plan. The city has three trucks equipped with spray machines that cover the city in rotating cycles. However, it incurs overtime for those three workers.
Mayor Steve Rosenthal said he was hoping for better results, although he stressed the public works department was doing a good job.
Rosenthal said the proposed plan would provide a more comprehensive testing process that city employees do not have the time to conduct along with their numerous other duties.
He said budgetwise, for the last three years, the city has allocated $85,000 for mosquito control.
However, they have used less than $75,000 in their efforts, so this fiscal year he only budgeted $75,000, which is the amount generated by the $1.75 fee added to the customers’ water bill.
“I feel like we should be obligated to at least spend what we collect,” he said.
Greenlee’s plan would cost the city $90,000 annually, and he wants a two-year contract.
Rosenthal said the amount is only $5,000 more than what they had budgeted previously.
“And I am hoping there is some negotiating room there,” he said.
Based on the current budget, it would require the city kicking in an additional $15,000.
Rosenthal said, “People don’t seem to be satisfied with what we’re doing. Let’s try something different.”
He wants to do a one-year contract instead of the proposed two-year deal. Alderman Marvin Elder asked Greenlee if his presentation packet included any referrals and he wanted to know how many other cities he had under contract.
Greenlee affirmed that he had the testimonials, however he is not currently under contract with any other cities.
Elder made the motion to table the issue until a later date, and he and Brock voted yes. Aldermen Gary Fratesi and Alderman Darrell Simpson voted no with Alderman Ruben Woods casting the deciding vote in favor of postponing a decision.
In other business,
The aldermen also voted unanimously to table a discussion on a proposed city ordinance change regarding closing times for neighborhood businesses. Questions were raised about zoning classifications and the aldermen were seemingly unable to come to a consensus on what types of businesses should be included.
The city leaders approved a request by Robert Terrell, from the B.B. King Museum, to waive the open container law and noise ordinance for a festival kick-off event schedule for May 4 on the museum lawn.
The board also agreed to hold a social event sponsored by Entergy on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the city hall parking lot. Citizens can get more information or sign-up for the free READI programs that will help to lower Entergy bills and make their home more energy-efficient. They can also go online to EntergySolutionsMS.com to register.
The city fathers entertained several discussions pertaining to surplus vehicles in the public works and fire departments and issued an order that the fire department’s red pickup truck be used for training purposes only.
They also voted to hire a full-time dogcatcher.
