I.   Meeting called to order at 7:07 p.m.  All board members present, plus the accountant and field manager and one member of the public.

Additions to the agenda:  Rosemary will report on last year's trapping results.
Discussion of aerial spray program (Robin)
Colorado Pesticide Network (Robin)

The Board elected to move the public comments section to the top of the meeting agenda from now on.

II.  Announcements
     A.   Biz Collins, the District Field Manager, was introduced.  
     B.   North Fork Mosquito Abatement District name change court order has been filed as of March 27, 2009.
     C.   Special District Association meeting on May 19 in Grand Junction - general orientation and training for special districts.  Gordon and Tara interested in attending.  NFMAD has not budgeted for the fees, so attendees will be on their own to pay for the workshop.

III. Meeting minutes of March 16, 2009 approved.

IV. Officers Reports
     A.  President - President - Kris congratulated the other Board members on their diligence, thanked volunteers and former employees who helped out.

      1.  Operations Manager Report - Biz Collins reported that 30 people applied for the field  inspector positions
Hired 4 crew members -  Benjamin "Keeganlee" Davis - will take Hotchkiss section, Lynne Gallegos - will work Paonia half of district.  They started this week and will go approximately until mid-September.
Peter Rogers and Duane Reed will begin May 11 and end approximately Aug. 28.

Drug testing employee options:  pre-employment test, random (discretionary) test, or test after an accident.  Cost is $60 for a UA. 

April 16 - All crew attended Van Diest mosquito control workshop in Grand Junction.  Office training beginning this week.  Biz taught them about the mosquito life cycle, took them to scout field, trained on dealing with members of the public.  Tomorrow will be training on equipment.  May 13 - Gale Jurik will help train our crew on adulticiding and calibrate the foggers.  Biz bought 3 backpack sprayers - puts us $275 over our small equipment budget, but Board had approved the purchase during the last work session as the equipment is necessary.  $3000 worth of Bti ordered - estimated to last us until end of June.  Board must submit a written bid request to lock in a lower price.  Three distributers are:  Van Diest, Clark, and Wilbur Ellis.  Biz will check with Mesa County Health, who has done this process, and get us the information we need to proceed.  We are using last year's leftover larvicide first - Biz tested it and got 100% kill rate with it even though it's past its expiration date.  There have been some standing water mosquito larvae found.  Floodwater mosquitoes will come a litter later and all at once.

      B.Treasurer -  Reports as follows.  Loan will be paid off by end of August.  Accounting fees way down compared to last year.  Kevin is reviewing the insurance to see if any costs can be lowered.

V.  Old Business

     Rosemary gave out copies of trapping results from our volunteers last year delineated by address and type of mosquitoes.  Kevin aware of a few people who would be willing to volunteer this year.

VI. New Business

      Discussion of how to utilize the crew.  Not enough money in the budget to hire extra crew to fog if needed.  May ask the larvicide crew if some are willing to be trained - Biz can fill in as a rover on the larvicide routes if a crew member needs to be pulled off to work in the evening.  Kris asked about aerial spraying instead of ground spraying.  Not in budget but could come out of supplies.  Rosemary suggested using it for emergencies - like a high incidence of disease.  She is investigating details for a back-up plan.  There may be a chemical available soon that will be registered as organic.  Our plan should be coordinated with the County's as they are the ones who can declare such an emergency.  Kevin offered to get trained to run the fogger, too.  Kris will ask Frank and Rena, who drove the fogging trucks last year, if they would be available for occasional runs this year as they are much more experienced.    If we spray much less this year, there may be some money available in the supply budget to pay for extra labor to operate it.
Colorado Pesticide Network has donated $150 to NFMAD in support of our efforts to reduce pesticide use in our district.
Point of contact for Biz - Kevin, then Kris, then Robin, then Rosemary or Tara for emergencies.
Drug test policy - the Board decided to make drug testing allowable at the Field Manager's discretion (for cause).  A vehicle accident would be considered cause.

Discussion regarding authority to clean up properties that are breeding mosquitoes.  We may have the authority, but must be careful how it is used.  We prefer a more collaborative approach first.

VII. Public comments, questions:  Public member brought up concern about properties that are good harborage for mosquitoes such as those by the river.  She does not want them to be "given up on" because they may be difficult to control.  Biz offered to come out to walk the property and give suggestions regarding minimizing mosquitoes.

VIII. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.