Posted: 11/22/05
Mosquito control program gets good response
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Mosquitoes are not on peopleís minds or on their skin these days.
But on November 15, Houston County commissioners were reminded of the dangers that some local types of mosquitoes carry.
Dave Geske, a mosquito control specialist with the La Crosse County Health Department, talked on the subject for about 20 minutes at the county board meeting. He also asked the board to continue with its annual contribution to the program, which last year was $2,000.
The board did not pass a motion to do so, but several members said they support the program. The county has been a part of Geskeís program since 1980, along with five other counties: Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, and Winona.
Donations from cities and counties help cover the cost of the program, which includes hiring college students to identify and treating problem areas such as standing water in ditches and old tires.
The biggest concern for the Houston County area is a disease known as La Crosse Viral Encephalitis (LVE). ìThe residuals of this can be devastating to people,î Geske said. Most children who get it have on-going problems, and 15 percent have permanent damage and even personality changes, Geske said.
Symptoms are fever, headache, drowsiness, nausea, muscle soreness, vomiting, and convulsions. Most cases result in mild illness and are not reported.
The number of LVE cases has decreased to an average of five per year in the last 10 years in the La Crosse area, Geske said. ìIím really pleased with that,î he said. Prior to that, there had been an average of 27 cases per year, with a high of 47 cases one year, Geske said.
Commissioner Kevin Kelleher asked what could be done to control mosquitoes in farm ponds. Geske said that buying a bacteria product from a farm or hardware store works best. It creates a spore that mosquitoes eat, which kills them.
Two grants approved
In other county board business, Heather Myhre, health educator for the county health department, presented two grants to the board for approval, which it did.
One grant was for $13,140 from the Minnesota Department of health for educational programs in schools to help prevent smoking. It will be shared with 10 other counties. Fillmore County will be the lead agency.
The other grant was for $5,000 from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety-Office of Traffic Safety. It will teach seat belt safety in area high schools.
Personnel issues
The board approved the hiring of Andrew Milde as a PC network specialist at $17.69 per hour.
The board also approved the renewal rates for county health, life, disability, long term care, and dental insurances. The aggregate amount for all health insurance premiums paid to Blue Cross/Blue Shield increased by 12.3 percent, personnel director Tim Comstock told the board. There was no rate change for life insurance, which is through Ochs, Inc. The other insurances are voluntary.
Veteran benefits
A summary of veteransí benefits received for Houston County was part of the board packet. Here are some of the highlights:
ï Total county veteran population: 1,870;
ï Total benefits received by county veterans from regional VA office: $2,120,631 (October 2003-September 2004); total dollars per veteran: $1,134;
ï Total of all federal and state benefits received: $4,022,892; total dollars per veteran: $2,151;
ï Number of veterans who used VA Medical Center: 614.
Other business
ï The board appointed Pam Griffith of Caledonia to serve on the SELCO board for three years. She replaces Tom Gittens of Hokah.
ï Commissioner Ann Thompson said that she had received a call from a homeowner regarding the sale of a house near the courthouse where a new criminal justice center may be built. Thompson wanted to know how to respond to the person. Commissioner Dave Corcoran suggested sending a committee to the personís house to gather information. The board agreed with that idea.
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