Hutchinson Leader - LETTER: Why mosquito spraying doesn’t fit into Hutchinson’s ’09 budget - Comments

I wish I was able to attend

Partsmissing — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:12:31 -0500

I wish I was able to attend tonight's council meeting to voice my opinion but can't.
As others have stated, the typical Minnesota summer is too short not to be able to enjoy it due to pesky mosquitoes. What would the water carnival activities be like without spraying? (Speaking only for myself, I wouldn't attend any outdoor activity to make myself a target for an untold number of mosquitoes.) I would guess that attendance would be down which would mean businesses losing a week's worth of added income from fewer customers.
West Nile virus cases would increase, or should we keep our already inactive children indoors for fear of contracting it? What price to we apply to a person's long term struggle to regain their health after contracting the disease, or losing their life?
The Relay for Life is another outdoor activity that may be affected. Isn't raising money for cancer research and a cure a dream for most everyone?
Why worry about trails and bike paths when fewer people would use them?
Even the scaled back plan for the 'gateway' project is going to cost money but the money seems to have been 'found' to accomplish that.

Thank you Mayor Cook. If

arcy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:06:25 -0500

Thank you Mayor Cook. If the price per house of the spraying is accurate, it sure was a great value. I know my household spent well over $100 a year on mosquito control and it was all for not. We could not sit, play, garden, get from the house to the mailbox with out full netting due to the onslaught of biting bugs. Maybe we need a Mosquito Referendum. It is all just so frustrating. Summer is so short, it has been heaven on earth being able to enjoy the warmth un-harassed the last two years.

To answer the question posed

Mayor Steve Cook — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:50:02 -0500

To answer the question posed here, there was not a tax increase to fund the mosquito program. The first year of the program (three years ago), the city only did larva control. That was done by treating the public storm water ponds and was paid for through an increase in storm water fees. However, when the council added the spraying program the next year (in addition to the pond treatment) the entire program was funded through the general fund just like other programs and services, and the storm water fees were reduced accordingly.

That said, a "voter approved" levy is an option that is available. In fact, it is one of only two exceptions to the levy limits imposed by the State that would allow Hutchinson to levy above its 3.3% limit for 2009. This additional tax would need to be for a use specified on the ballot.

What do you mean by did we

gopher5 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:05:17 -0500

What do you mean by did we accept a tax hike to pay for mosquito control? There was no vote in which people voted on whether we should pay for mosquito spraying if that is what you mean. Other than that, tax increases are decided by the city to pay for all services, not to divide the dollar amount of an increase into what expense that dollar goes to. It all goes to a general fund. For example if taxes go up $5, it isn't broken down into whether $1 went to mosquito spraying, $2 went to street repairs, and another $2 went to additional police funding.

So for clarity Terry, who on

arcy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:45:41 -0500

So for clarity Terry, who on the paper covers the City Council, and did we or did we not accept a tax hike to pay for the mosquito control two years ago?

Just for clarity — the

Terry Davis — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:36:52 -0500

Just for clarity — the Mayor's letter originally was written for, and ran in, the print edition of the Leader. The Leader posts all signed and printed letters on its Web site. Mayor Cook did not post it here, so I don't think we can naturally assume he is following the thread here to respond to comments.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)

Mayor Cook wrote the initial

arcy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:39:44 -0500

Mayor Cook wrote the initial article on this. Why has he not answered pk? I do not remember, did we take a hike in taxes for the spraying or not? If so, can the Council just reallocate that money because it has decided it needs it more elsewhere? This is exactly the sort of trickery that has people voting no to referendums, not showing for meetings, not trusting the powers that be. I know I am new to this town but I have never heard of such a screwy way for "government" to function.

The Mosquito control program

ChristyChristensen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:25:12 -0500

The Mosquito control program needs to continue in 2009. With 5800 parcels in the City of Hutchinson, less than 20 said “don’t spray” which 5780 said “PLEASE DO”. That is 99.7% supporting the program. With the mosquito program cost of $44,000 this is about $7.59 per parcel. Before the program, I use to battle going outside with a fogger in hand and gallons of malithion and canisters of skeeter beater. I spent between $30 and $60 on chemicals to unsuccessfully control the mosquitoes. Then the city came along with the great program at a far lesser cost, far less chemical applied, and being a managed program it worked! A few people have said “Why are we spraying when there are no mosquitoes?” and the simple answer is “There are no mosquitoes because the program works and works well.”

In 2009, I can either pay $8 for a mosquito free summer through the city’s program. If they have no program in 2009, I can say goodbye to my yard and parks for the bulk of the summer and when I do have guests, I can spend $40 on chemical for those few days to battle and swat the mosquitoes.

The choice is clear. The city needs to find a way to continue the program. If we can find a few hundred thousand dollars in our budget for special projects like the pedestrian tunnel, we should be able to find $44,000 for a city wide program. I’m not picking on the tunnel; I’m only saying that finding money has been an option in the past. If finding money is not an option, then this needs to be put to a vote.

A managed mosquito program will cost citizens less, use less chemical by far, and will significantly increase the quality of life.

I thought when the city

pk — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:19:09 -0500

I thought when the city decided to spray for mosquitos that our taxes went up to cover the spraying. The amount that was talked about at the time was $20 per household. What happened to that money and will our real estate taxes now be going down that amount?

We could go on forever with

sportsnut — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:03:20 -0500

We could go on forever with how we as taxapyers think our council/mayor inapproriately spends our tax dollsrs. This item is one thing that they do need to spend our tax dollars on! I am all for it! Yes, the dry weather has played a role in the very pleasant, mosquito-less community we have enjoyed over the past few years. But, the spraying has played a role in that also.
To stop it now would be a ridiculous choice! A message to current council members and mayor... Please find some funding in the 2009 budget for this. There is something in the current budget that can be cut or elimated (I am sure I could find something) However, I will leave it at that.
By not continuing this into 2009 and beyond, the community would basically be throwing away what we have built up to this point.

How about hosting a little

B@ssDoctor — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:42:32 -0500

How about hosting a little community event called "Spray Daze" in which all proceeds would go towards spraying. I will be up for it as long as the beer/music is reasonable.

It's an easy letter to write

Tip up — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:48:14 -0500

It's an easy letter to write when running unopposed in the election this fall.

I for one do not agree with

Chief2 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:08:27 -0500

I for one do not agree with the Mayor in regards to the mosquito spraying.

I would urge anyone that has a comment (one way or the other) to come to the next council meeting on Wednesday the 10th at 5:30 and let their voices be heard.

This makes me so sad. It is

arcy — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:14:48 -0500

This makes me so sad. It is one area I could say I paid my 2 cents and could see/ feel / enjoy results immediately. The money spent on spraying saved my family $100's on over the counter sprays, fogs, (bite ointment) that only work marginally as well. Sorry Mr. Mayor but you can keep your "decorative sidewalk edging" and put my taxes where they do some public GOOD! What is the council thinking?!?

LETTER: Why mosquito spraying doesn’t fit into Hutchinson’s ’09 budget

Melissa Sullivan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:43:50 -0500

From Mayor Steve Cook
Hutchinson

I would like to respond to a recent letter writer’s questions and comments (“Hutchinson needs mosquito spraying,” Aug. 28 Leader) about the city’s mosquito control program and a possible project that has been discussed. During any budget preparation, choices need to be made. As a city council, with the help of staff, our first priority needs to be what is deemed to be essential and critical services (our “core” services). In addition, choices have to be weighed against expenses and available revenues.