Committee discusses recent mosquito spraying and calls for clearer resident communication

Members of the Village of Lake Bluff Sustainability & Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee discussed emergency mosquito spraying during the Aug. 19 meeting and recommended clearer communications to residents about the health rationale and opt-out options.

Committee members said Lake County testing showed West Nile–positive mosquito traps in Lake Bluff, prompting county-recommended spraying by the village’s contractor, Clark Mosquito, after several weeks of monitoring. One member said the village had not sprayed in recent years but undertook the limited spray after five consecutive weeks of positive monitoring and county recommendation.

"The positive test actually came from Lake Bluff specific traps," a staff member said, adding that the village contracts with Clark Mosquito and that this was an unusual circumstance following consecutive weeks of detections. Several residents said they had received only a cursory notice that spraying would occur and that the notice did not make clear the West Nile detection reason.

Committee members reviewed the opt-out process and confirmed that staff handled individual opt-out requests through Drew, the village staff contact. Members suggested improved advance notice and clearer messaging that the…