Voters asked for financial support to fight pests

Barbara Diamond

Orange County Vector Control District officials are bugged by a lack

of funding to eradicate fire ants and for other programs.

“For the district to continue the expected high level of vector

control for our citizens, it has become necessary to go to the voters

to approve a modest increase in the vector control assessment, by

$5.42, still be the lowest in the state” said Grant McCombs, Laguna’s

long-time representative to the district. The district is appealing

directly to the voters for support of the increase, by mailing a

ballot measure to residential and commercial property owners. Mail-in

ballots must be returned by July 22. Results are expected to be

announced in early August.

Assessments appear on the annual property tax bill. The increase

would appear on the next bill.

“If the citizens approve [the increase], the district in

cooperation with local pest control agencies, will continue fire ant

eradication programs,” McCombs told the City Council in his annual

report.

To date, no fire ant eradication measures have been taken in

Laguna Beach.

If an infestation of fire ants is suspected, McCombs said, a

district specialist makes an initial inspection and treatment, if

required. Local pest control agencies then follow-up with two more

treatments, according to district procedures. The district specialist

makes a final inspection to determine if eradication is complete and

pays the local agencies if the work is deemed satisfactory.

In addition to state and federal withdrawal from the fire ant

eradication program, representatives of vector districts were told

recently at the Mosquito Quarterly Conference that special districts

statewide could expect a $350 million cut.

“That shortfall is exacerbated by the confirmed presence of West

Nile Virus in Orange County,” McCombs said.

Mosquitoes transfer the virus from birds to humans.

Three infected house finches were found at the North Pacific Coast

Highway bird testing station, according to McCombs. To date there

have been two reported human cases of the virus in the county,

neither fatal, he said.

“If all of our neighbors will ensure that there are no pools of

stagnant water in their yards where mosquitoes can breed, it will

help a great deal in the mosquito control program,” McCombs said.

Even a tiny puddle in a tire can be a breeding ground. Check

watering cans, pots, any container that doesn’t drain.

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman thanked McCombs for his fine job in

representing the city.