It's the right time for mosquito district

New state legislation that was heavily supported by Flathead County officials has given counties the ability to set up and govern their own mosquito-control districts.

In an era when the threat of West Nile virus looms ever larger, it's the right time for a mosquito district in Flathead County.

The commissioners will hold a requisite public hearing for a proposed Flathead mosquito district at 10 a.m. on Aug. 3, and we urge residents to support it.

The proposal would replace two small districts in Kalispell and Somers with a single countywide district. All property owners would be taxed equally to pay for the resources needed to keep mosquito populations down.

Three years ago, in the face of hundreds of complaints about mosquitoes, the county began a petition drive to create a countywide district. But signatures from 10,000 registered voters were required, and the plan eventually fizzled when the number of signatures came up short.

Now counties can simply pass a resolution, hold a public hearing and proceed based on comments at the hearing.

A countywide district could levy up to 2 mills in taxes for mosquito control, but county officials have yet to say whether they'll go for the full amount.

Even with the full 2 mills, it would only cost the average taxpayer a few dollars a year. Funding details will be explained at the public hearing.

County health director Joe Russell wants the new district to include mapping and surveying, with oversight from the county health board. That seems like a reasonable fit. An educational component also would be a good idea for a broadened mosquito-control program, so residents know what to expect in terms of when and where larvicide is used and what other measures are part of the control program.

Although mosquitoes are needed nutrition for bats and a variety of birds, their capacity to carry the West Nile virus by ingesting blood from infected birds is a greater threat than any benefits they provide to wildlife. And even a mosquito district won't eradicate the bugs we love to hate.

The point of a mosquito district isn't simply to make our lives more pleasant when we're outdoors. It's about addressing the health and safety of citizens, and that's a goal we can get behind.