Mosquito-control levy breeds controversy

The Daily Inter Lake

Do Flathead County voters believe mosquitoes are a threat to public health, or just a nuisance?

Are those same voters willing to tax themselves an average of $6 a year to have the county run an integrated pest management program?

Voters will decide on Nov. 7 when a mosquito control levy question appears again on ballots across the county. The new request drops the levy to a maximum of one mill instead of the two mills voted down in June.

If approved, the levy would fund a program to control mosquitoes from year to year. One mill would add about $6 to the annual property tax bill of a house with a taxable valuation of $200,000.

County Health Officer Joe Russell asked the county commissioners to bring the levy request back for another vote.

"As a public health professional, I advocate for mosquito control," Russell said.

Russell said that the levy lost by a small margin, and added that he believes voters had incorrect information prior to the first vote.

Dr. Glen Aasheim, a physician and chairman of the mosquito control board, also supports the measure.

"The most important thing is that we would like to extend our program as funds allow," Aasheim said. "What we need to do is mitigate the appearance of West Nile virus for humans and animals."

One member of the mosquito control commission, McGregor Rhodes, said that he opposes the levy measure. Rhodes formed a political action group, Ethical Voters Opposing Mosquito Levy, to oppose the measure.

Rhodes, a construction worker, said the disease threat has been exaggerated and the effectiveness of any program not measurable. He cites Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics which show that only a small fraction of people infected become seriously ill from West Nile virus.

In addition, he said those exposed to the virus get a consolation prize.

"Once bitten by a West Nile virus mosquito, your body develops resistance to the virus," he said.

Russell said mosquito control is a preventative measure against West Nile virus or other potential mosquito-borne diseases. He compares it to people getting a vaccination for the flu.

"But with West Nile virus, there is no immunization for humans - only horses," Russell said. "You look at it as a preventive issue."

The health officer said no one can predict the severity of the threat of West Nile virus. But he said he knows the virus has arrived in the valley with two human and four horse cases in the last few months.

The county has $60,000 left over from the Evergreen/Kalispell and Somers mosquito districts for larviciding next spring. This process uses environmentally-approved chemicals to kill mosquitoes in the larval stage before they hatch.

Russell said the majority of that money would be spent within those districts since those dollars came from a levy paid by the Somers and Evergreen/Kalispell taxpayers.

If the county-wide mosquito control levy passes, Russell expects to recommend a budget of $70,000 to $120,000 a year "which is considerably less than one mill." It would cover a full-time position and a half-time position for about six months.

Russell envisions an integrated pest management program with surveillance, larviciding and public education.

Surveillance includes dipping ponds and other water sources for larvae as well as setting mosquito traps to find where mosquitoes breed.

"We'd like to double the number of adult traps we run to 12 to 15," Russell said.

Mosquitoes caught in the traps allow the department to track which species have emerged and if any carry West Nile virus. It serves as a warning mechanism for emergence of the disease.

Rhodes argues the mosquito problem is better addressed by individuals rather than government.

He said people can buy chemicals and spray their private property. They can also take preventative steps such as draining standing water, screening windows and using repellent.

"The government shouldn't be in the position of solving people's little nuisances," he said. "Some people simply cannot afford to pay more taxes,"

Rhodes describes the return of the defeated levy for a second vote as an outrage.

"The citizens who volunteer their time to serve on the mosquito control board were not even asked if they wanted to approve a new levy request for the November ballot," Rhodes said.

Rhodes added that, during a discussion of that ballot measure, County Commissioner Joe Brenneman said that the county would pay to control mosquitoes if the measure didn't pass.

However, Brenneman said his meaning was misconstrued. He said he was addressing what the county would consider in the event of an epidemic-like outbreak of West Nile or other mosquito-borne disease.

"The county would have a responsibility to consider funding from another source," he said. "People expect government to do that."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com