Sugar Grove resident: Why don't you spray for mosquitoes?
With hordes of mosquitoes cropping up as a result of last month's rain, at least one Sugar Grove resident is asking: Why doesn't the village spray chemicals to kill the bugs?
Karen McCannon pleaded with the village board Tuesday to start spraying to kill adult mosquitoes around the village. "Isn't your main concern the residents?" she said. "This is something that affects the elderly, the handicapped, the very young, because of West Nile virus."
But village officials were not inclined to change the village's policy. And even if they did want to start spraying, it likely couldn't get it arranged to happen before autumn, Village President Sean Michels said.
Rather than spray, the village puts chemical briquettes in stormwater catchbasins to kill mosquito larvae, Public Works Director Tony Speciale said. Village Administrator Brent Eichelberger said they are considering putting in more briquettes than budgeted, due to the increased mosquito population this rainy summer.
Eichelberger said spraying "is not typically cost-effective," and not in the budget. McCannon bristled at that, noting that when the village has to buy extra road salt in the winter, it manages to find money.
Trustee Kevin Geary suggested trying to get a price quote from Clarke Environmental Services, which does spraying in other communities in Kane County. But Michels said a contract would have to be advertised for bid due to the likely cost, which would take at least 30 days.
Trustee Rick Montalto also questioned whether it would be effective, given the prevalence of standing water on farmland near the village and in containers such as birdbaths in people's yards.
Montalto said he sprayed his yard with a $10 bottle of insecticide available at hardware and grocery stores. Trustee Mari Johnson said she has contracted for a weekly spraying of her yard by Clarke, from Memorial Day to early fall, for about 20 years.
"Homeowners have to take some responsibility themselves," Montalto said.