Effective immediately, the light area on the attached map has been identified as Wilderness Area by J.N. Ding Darling National Refuge. The polygon overlays are Lee County Mosquito Control District(LCMCD) larviciding areas. The concern is the light purple area which results from the intersect of the wilderness area and LCMCD’s treatment area. This wilderness area designation prohibits LCMCD from any type of aerial treatment for mosquitoes in the light purple colored area. Previously LCMCD has been able to larvicide this area trying to control mosquitoes prior to hatching. Larviciding is controlling mosquitoes in the immature aquatic stage and is the preferred control method of the LCMCD. LCMCD will now be forced to wait until the mosquitoes hatch into adults and move off refuge property in search of a blood meal. Then LCMCD will ground adulticide the surrounding non-refuge property. This area tends to be highly productive for mosquito development. The change will result in surrounding areas having higher numbers of mosquitoes, having higher numbers of mosquitoes for a longer period of time and having more adulticide treatments in the surrounding property.Refuge Manager, Paul Tritak has agreed to take our concerns under consideration and investigate if there is a way to allow larviciding to be performed on this site in the future. Lee County Mosquito Control District will continue to work on resolving this issue with the Refuge and knock down the adult mosquitoes as quickly as possible.
Donated Mural for Training CenterUnspoiled Florida 
From left to right: Commissioner George Mann, Jr., Chairman Sarah Larsen, Joan Heggemeier, Gary Heggemeier, Commissioner Bruce Scott, Kelly Gaylord, and Commissioner Larry Murphy Lee County Mosquito Control District Board of Commissioners RESOLUTION
Whereas: Joan and Gary Heggemeier and Kelly Gaylord generously donated their time and talents to create an exceptional work of art in the form of a wall mural for the Education/Training Center for Lee County Mosquito and Hyacinth Control Districts; and Whereas: The many hours of time and effort used to plan and complete such a significantly large and highly valuable mural were given selflessly for the benefit of the Districts by Joan and Gary Heggemeier and Kelly Gaylord; and Whereas: The mural dramatically captures the natural flora and fauna found in Lee County, Florida and provides a vivid reminder of the ecological richness of southwest Florida to all who enter the facility; and Whereas: The mural will be used as tool to provide public education for students and other visitors to the Districts about the natural ecology of Lee County, Florida and the missions of the Districts in controlling mosquitoes and aquatic weeds and providing for the public health and well being of Lee County citizens; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT Lee County Mosquito Control District and Hyacinth Control District do hereby express deep appreciation to Joan and Gary Heggemeier and Kelly Gaylord for their gnerosity, immeasurable talent and diligence in providing this amazing gift. PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED at the Board meeting of the Lee County Mosquito and Hyacinth Control Districts on this 9th day of February, 2012. What are you paying for mosquito control in Lee County? The tax rate for Lee County Mosquito Control District is 0.2388 mills, therefore you pay about 24 cents for every thousand dollars of property value. A property valued at $100,000 would pay $23.88 for mosquito control this year. The millage rate allows the District to collect $13 million dollars this year, not the $22 million dollars that keeps being reported in the media. The District does not spend $22 million dollars each year. Lee County Mosquito Control District has funds in reserve which when combined with the annual collections add up to $21.5 million. The reserve funds are set aside for future capital projects, self-insurance, emergency operating funds and other future liabilities. The cost of mosquito control to the taxpayer over the last ten years has actually declined slightly even with the significant fluctuations of land prices and the rise and fall of other tax assessments. The Board has endeavored to take roll back most years and keep cost to the taxpayer fairly consistent. A Lee County homeowner with property valued at $100,000 in 2002 paid about $36 for mosquito control. A Lee County homeowner today with a property valued at 100,000 will pay about $24 for mosquito control. The South Atlantic Region Mosquito ReportBy Henry B. Lewandowski - South Atlantic Director for the American Mosquito Control Association As our nation's economic engine continues to sputter, funding cuts continue to dominate the South Atlantic Region. The amount of federal money distributed to states through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant will be reduced again in 2012. In Alabama and Georgia, the cuts will terminate statewide efforts to conduct surveys and test mosquitoes for arboviruses. Only a few programs have the ability to pay for routine testing. With less information available it becomes increasingly more difficult to make accurate risk assessments during disease threat years. Fortunately, Florida and South Carolina were essentially level-funded and will be able to maintain surveillance programs at existing levels. Alabama and South Carolina enjoyed relatively mild arboviral disease threats in 2011. However, there was a focus of high West Nile virus activity that extended along the coast from Savannah, GA to Jacksonville, FL. Nine cases of West Nile fever/encephalitis were reported in Savannah, 2 in Brunswick, GA and 20 from Jacksonville, FL. Collectively, Florida and Georgia reported 5 fatalities attributed to West Nile virus. An additional fatality was reported from Alabama. Dengue fever which has been prominent in Key West, FL in recent years, was not reported in thaty community in 2011. Somewhat surprisingly however, is the fact that seven locally acquired cases of Dengue were reported from four other counties in Florida: three in Miami-Dade, two in Palm Beach, and one each in Hillsborough and Martin Counties. The periodic appearance of these viruses reinforces the need for continued mosquito surveillance and testing to reduce the impact of arboviral diseases. To read the latest work by the University of Florida on a genitically modified fungus to help control mosquitoes click here http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/2012/02/02/uf-studies-show-promise-for-biological-control-methods-against-insect/ The Lee County Mosquito Control and Lee County Hyacinth Control Districts have adopted new District boundaries. To see the 7 divisions of the Districts click on map. Adopted Budget for Oct. 2011 - Sept. 2012: 2011-12 Annual Budget 2010 Annual Report:Annual Report 2010 Part 1 Annual Report 2010 Part 2
Tips on Repellent Use Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before applying a repellent. In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is appropriate. DEET is not recommended on children younger than 2 months old. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children less than 3 years old. Infants should be kept indoors or mosquito netting should be used over carriers when outside. Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child's skin and clothing. Apply insect repellent to exposed skin or onto clothing, but not under clothing. Do not apply repellent to the eyes or mouth, cuts, wounds, or irritated skin. If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to clothing or gear. Tips on Eliminating Mosquito Breeding Sites Remove water in old tires, buckets, garbage cans, and other containers where water collects. Check clogged gutters and flat roofs that may have poor drainage. Fill in holes or dips in the ground that collect water. Level the ground around your home so water can run off. Empty birdbaths, water bowls, plant pots, and wading pools once or twice a week. Store boats upside down or with a cover. Products for HomeownersAs mosquito season approaches, homeowners often ask what they can do to help control mosquitoes around their home. For more information on mosquito control timed spray systems, ultrasonic devices, mosquito trapping devices, bug zappers, bats and purple martins go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN171 |
