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

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?!?

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

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.

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.

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.