Paonia Mosquito Control District

September 10, 2008

Paonia Town Hall

I.  Call to order  7:05 p.m.  Kevin ran the meeting in Kris' absence.
II.  Announcements - Kris and Michael absent as both are out of town.
III.  Minutes approved
IV.  Officer's reports -
       A.  Field report - Larviciders report very little larval activity any longer and expect this to be their last week.  Robin gave observations regarding potential breeding sites in town - uncovered containers, etc.  Tara gave observations regarding fields, flood irrigation and possible solutions.  Some sites are too costly to larvicide due to their large size, but they may not need to exist at all with better drainage or irrigation practices.
       B.   Treasurer's report - Robin's wife Cynthia read Gordon McAlpin's report in his absence (as she has a finance background and could answer questions regarding terminology).   In the hole about $2000 so far.  Board members have applied for a line of credit at the bank to finish out the year.  Final paychecks and bonuses will be due soon, and new supplies may need to be purchased before next year's tax money comes in.

V.   Committee reports -
       A.  Public education - Tara reported she will apply for grant to publish newsletter.  Preparing presentation to summarize the year to be presented next meeting.
       B.  Finance - Kevin reported no further communication from local mines regarding possible donations.  Robin is working with volunteers to locate grants to apply for.
       C.  Trapping & surveillance - Mike Smolen reports numbers down due to colder weather.  Ratio of Culex to other species way down.            

VI.   Old business-
       Tara asked whether a Board member had yet investigated the Beck property since they asked to be annexed into the district.  None of the three present have done so, though there is some indication they have been making some effort to reduce breeding sites under Brandon Beck's guidance (as he works for the PMCD as a larvicider).  Consensus was that we needed input from the other Board members and that it might be better to annex several properties at once rather than piecemeal.  Matter postponed again.

VII.  New Business -
    A.   Preparing for next season - get bids from outside companies or not?  Tara suggested it might be too expensive to consider based on OtterTail's informal estimates of providing help the rest of the season.  Robin and Kevin would like to get information, wait until then to decide whether we need a formal bidding process (which would be required for that large an expenditure).
    B.   Site mitigation -
                 1.  Drainage solutions - PMCD may consider helping with these solutions with information, consultation, perhaps even funding if it is cost effective.
                 2.  Flood irrigation - PMCD may help connect landowners with programs designed to help defray the cost of switching from flood irrigation to sprinkler systems, which in addition to increasing yields and improving soil and water conditions virtually eliminate mosquito breeding as a side benefit.

VIII.  Public comments.

IX.     Meeting adjourned 8:25 p.m.