Posted: 3/22/05
City plans mosquito control
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Mosquito season may seem like a long ways off, but the Caledonia City Council is looking ahead and at its meeting of March 14 approved up to $1,500 for mosquito abatement.
David Geske, vector control officer for La Crosse County, spoke to city officials about renewal of its agreement with La Crosse County for mosquito control. The types of mosquitoes that are a threat are the kinds that carry West Nile virus and the La Crosse strain of viral encephalitis.
Encephalitis, said Geske, is a ìvery expensive disease to treat.î If affects mainly children, and of the children who contract the disease, half have ongoing problems and 15 percent suffer permanent damage to their central nervous system. The most cases reported in Caledonia for a single year is seven, Geske said.
In Houston County, the incidence of the disease-carrying mosquitoes is highest in Houston, Hokah and Caledonia. The mosquitoes breed primarily in standing water, such as tree holes or old unrimmed tires. Tires provide a more favorable habitat than nature can, which is why itís important to monitor sites that may provide that type of habitat.
ìIf you want to build a mosquito-producing machine, it would be a tire,î said Geske.
The mosquito that carries the West Nile virus breeds primarily in ponds, ditches, storm water retention ponds and wetlands, said Geske.
Last year, mosquito abatement measures cost the city $1,280. Nearly $1,000 of that went for staff time to perform the monitoring and treatment of breeding sites. The cost of chemicals and traps is negligible because there are grants to help pay for them, Geske explained.
The mosquito control measures were formerly part of a contract between Houston and La Crosse Counties, but the two counties could not come to an agreement so the cities are now contacted individually, said Geske.
The mosquito abatement program has served to keep the mosquito population low, said Geske.
ìI feel good about whatís happened here,î he added.
Intersection safety
discussions continue
The city council continued its discussions on the safety issues surrounding the school crossing on Highway 44/76.
Mike Meyer, a school crossing guard, showed his broken flag to the council, and explained that it was broken as he tried to stop a car from passing on the right-hand side. The driver was later stopped and claimed to have faulty brakes.
Meyer told the council that more motorists are being stopped by the police for passing on the right, but it continues to be a problem. Local drivers seem to obey the laws better than out-of state drivers.
ìIf I see an Iowa car coming, I know theyíre going to try it,î Meyer told the council.
The city is looking into having flashing lights placed by the school crossing. According to City Clerk Administrator Robert Nelson, the cityís chief electrician, Roger Schmitz, has recommended hard-wired lights rather than the solar-powered lights that have also been discussed.
In the meantime, the city will consider portable school crossing signs to be placed within the crosswalk.
City will donate to
concession stand
In a split vote, the city agreed to donate $500 towards the building of a concession stand at the school. The Rotary Club of Caledonia is currently raising funds for the construction of the stand.
Voting in favor were Mayor Mike Morey and council members Paul Fisch, who made the motion, and Robert Standish. Voting against were Randi Vick and Gary Klug.
The council also split on a vote of whether to require a new building permit for a utility shed.
The permit was requested by Don Ellestad, who received a permit on behalf of Whispering Pines in 2003 for a 10' x 10' utility shed. According to clerk Nelson, he didnít find a suitable shed at that time but has since located a 10' x 14' shed that he would like to put up, and wanted to know if the permit was still valid. There are no setbacks required for the shed.
A motion to allow the shed under the old building permit failed on a 2-3 vote.
In favor were Klug and Standish, and voting against were Morey, Vick and Fisch.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com