I
am not finished yet to release my 150 page website (and experience from the
past has taught me that to release a portion of the finished report causes the
rest of the report to be completely ignored).
Still, here is one comment:
Here
is a typical example of how
Then when the vote is taken, the attractive characteristics which the council members display during the questioning period suddenly disappear except for one Council member, Karen Benker whose vote is overridden by the votes of the other members of the Council. And these individuals have the power to subject thousands of individuals, including children, to very lethal chemicals even in the absence of any health epidemic.
Mr Weissmann’s employment is heralded on the website of Colorado Mosquito Control: “For more information, to set up sample submissions or for instructions on how to package and ship trap samples, contact Michael “Doc” Weissmann in the CMC Surveillance Laboratory at (303) 558-8730 (or Toll Free at (877) 276-4306 outside of the Denver Metro Area).”http://www.comosquitocontrol.com/Consulting_Services.htmlhttp://www.comosquitocontrol.com/Consulting_Services.html
The following minutes of the Longmont City Council are from the internet address: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/city_council/minutes/documents/05082007.pdf
CITY
COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION
CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
….
D. Mosquito Program Update
Dan
Wolford, Open Space Manager, introduced this item. He provided an overview of
Virus in 2006. There were 219 human cases in the state with
119 cases centered close to
community against this disease. A recommendation has been made to extend the contract with
control. The remaining 5% is the adulticide program. Last year CMC investigated over 2,000 sites,
and sprayed 411 miles, and treated 311 different sites. Approximately 41 miles was sprayed
throughout the entire year to deal with nuisance mosquitoes. The remaining miles were targeted at the
culex species, a known carrier of
the
100 adult mosquitoes, that number triggers the spraying program. The trap sites are monitored and
counted every single week throughout the season. He reviewed
the hotspots in
does provide notification in the Times Call before spraying. In addition information is provided on
the website. A complaint line (877-276-4306) has been set up so the general public may call CMC
rather than the City. CMC also has a chemical sensitivity notification list, and gives prior notice of
neighborhood spraying to allow citizens the opportunity take whatever action is necessary to protect
themselves.
Mayor Pirnack noted that spray dates were often changed because of the possibility of rain. She asked
about more information on the call list.
Mike McGuinness, Colorado Mosquito Control, explained that people on CMC’s list receive a
notification renewal form every year. CMC will call them the day of scheduled spraying and let them
know it is weather permitting. They know a cancelled spray will be automatically rescheduled for the
next night. If a cancellation extends to a third day, CMC does telephone everyone on the list on that
third day. He advised that information is also put on the CMC website. If there is a postponement, it
usually occurs by
Responding to Council member Brown’s query about how long the spray remains in the atmosphere,
Mr. McGuiness replied that it depends upon weather conditions. Generally, the spray is in the air
about an hour or less. CMC tries not to spray when it is very calm.
Responding to Council member Benker’s query whether spaying affects any water sources, Mr.
McGuiness advised that the type of spraying is called ultra low volume—less than 1 ounce per acre in
microscopic size droplets. The half-life is less than 12 hours, so the compound is broken down
quickly. The larva control is different. Water is treated with a bacterial product called BTI. When
this granular product is eaten, the larval is destroyed. The product does not affect other non-targeted
species. Its use is very specific to mosquito larva.
Joe Malanowski, Consumer Protection Coordinator, Boulder County Health Department, stated that
the County has had a mosquito control program for over ten years. The program primarily targets
larva control. He wished to speak about the West Nile aspect of mosquito control. In 2003 and 2006
there were large numbers of mosquitoes carrying
been about the disease and how that disease progresses. There is more compelling evidence this year
that really shows when the County should recommend spraying for West Nile Virus.
John Poppy, Epidemiologist with the State of Colorado, stated that there are now four full years of
data on this disease that shows some trends. The state knows
approximately where
will be, but it can’t predict the severity. Three areas that consistently light up each year are the
northern
Irrigated cropland is a wonderful mosquito producer. Mosquito production is probably taking place
outside city limits, and then the strong-flying mosquitoes migrate in. July and August are the peak
months for the
feeling well. Then, a few days to a week elapse before people are tested. Then, there is the wait for
the test results. A three to five week delay usually occurs before the Health Department begins
receiving information about human cases. Thus, there is a need to make a spraying decision based on
surveillance data from the mosquito population. Control should occur in July if it is going to prevent
the most number of cases.
Council
member Lange asked if
Mr.
Poppy explained that the virus arrived in the
Successive epidemics occurred in 2002, 2003, and 2004. West Nile Virus has found a home in the
western United States because it is irrigated crop land.
Certain areas of
going to be hit harder than other areas of the
larvicide’s control in City limits is very effective. But, there is the problem of “immigration.”
Mike McGuinness added that, fortunately, CMC also carries out
The key fact is that mosquitoes are going to fly only as far as they need to in order to get a blood
meal.
Gordon Pedrow, City Manager, stated that throughout the summer when traps were showing certain
numbers, the City sprayed locally. However, it was late in spraying the entire City.
Mr. McGuiness advised Council member Block that CMC uses the most environmentally sound and
least toxic products available. Its effect on a person varies with that person’s sensitivities. CMC
does have a link to the Boulder County Health website where there is a paper entitled “Human Health
Risk Assessment for
Mr. Poppy added that there have not been any conclusive studies that link spraying to illnesses.
He advised Council member Brown that three companies are working toward developing a vaccine
for
Mayor Pirnack asked for information on the impact of spraying on other beneficial insects such as
honey bees, etc. If one had bee colonies on his property, could he avoid having the area sprayed?
Doc Weismann, Entomologist for Colorado Science Control, replied that a large bodied insect would
have to be right behind the truck to be affected. Spraying is done at night when most of the main
pollinators are in their hives, so they are generally not affected.
Mr. McGuinness added that CMC does have a “no-spray” list with a number of bee hive owners on
that list. CMC has never had a significant bee kill-off from spraying. He said he will be
recommending late June to first week of August as the most effective for adulticide spraying.
Mr. Malanowski also commented that the risk of
pesticide being used.
Council
member Benker moved, seconded by Brown, to allow the
public an opportunity to
speak before the experts leave. Motion carried:
6-0 (
Mayor opened public comment on this item.
Jen
Sutton,
mosquito spraying. She believes it to be a type of carcinogen. She said she does support larviciding
using BTI. She stated she was diagnosed with breast cancer last July. It is progesterone and estrogen
receptor positive which means her cancer is aggravated by estrogens. Permetherin is a manmade
estrogen that can produce shortness of breath, tremors, loss of coordination, headaches, eye and skin
irritations, and disruption of the endocrine system. Children are more sensitive to permethrin than
adults. Pesticides kill off the natural predators of mosquitoes, so they came back stronger after
spraying and are pesticide resistant to future sprayings. She asked Council to consider alternatives
including increased larviciding which is more effective in reducing mosquito populations.
Kirsten
Burris,
cancer causing agent and so could be causing cancer in community members. CMC did not present
any investigative results on this issue. The City of
because larviciding solves both problems in the most humane way, and is least harmful to life.
Mark
Osborne,
a major problem. The chemicals from the spray will not be out of his yard or home. The spray is
broken down by sunlight and actually lasts for about 30 days. He indicated his personal experience
with bee kill-off. He stated he had about 800 bees around his home and the day after permethrin was
sprayed there was a 90% die off of the bees in his yard. He pointed out that St. Judes’ Children’s
research hospital has clearly connected permethrin with Parkinson’s Disease.
Mr. Malanowski confirmed for Council member Lange that
reaches a certain level.
Mr. Weismann advised Mayor Pirnack that many insects do develop a resistance to pesticides. The
type of mosquito control being done in
carcinogens are dose related. CMC is using the lowest dose it can. What a citizen can purchase for
home use is often more toxic than what is being sprayed.
City
Council Proceedings –
Council member Block requested that CMC representatives visit Council again before spraying the
second time.
Council member Brown noted there is tremendous amount of spraying on the agricultural land that
surrounds the City.
Mr. Wolford advised Council member Lange that he and staff are in complete agreement about not
spraying any more often than is absolutely necessary. The City is trying to be very sensitive to those
with special needs.
Mayor Pirnack said she wished to be reassured that the index for spraying is based on the presence of
West Nile Virus and not based on nuisance mosquitoes.
Council member Benker remarked she did not feel comfortable giving this decision to staff. She
believes it should be a Council decision.
Council
member Block moved, seconded by Blue, to give Gordon Pedrow,
City Manager, the
ability to make the decision on first spraying.
Motion carried: 5-1 (Benker dissenting,
absent).