City approves 2025 mosquito abatement program; operator outlines spraying, testing and opt-out options

The Burton City Council approved the 2025 mosquito abatement program on April 14 after hearing a detailed explanation of the contractor’s plan for larval control, disease testing and truck spraying.

The contractor told the council the program will begin with treating standing water in April and disease-testing in June, with truck spraying starting in mid- to late May and continuing into September. The operator said crews will door-knock to obtain permission to treat standing water on private property and that residents may request prior notification or opt out. “We will be disease testing in June. Those results will be reported to the council,” the contractor said. He added that truck spraying is scheduled to begin mid to late May.

Council members asked specifically about impacts to bees. The contractor said the products used in truck spraying are highly toxic to bees if the hive is directly sprayed and that the label and timing requirements mean spraying is done after dark to reduce risk. He told council that prior notification and opt-out procedures would be included in an informational mailer and that beekeepers could request direct notification when spraying will occur in their area.

Council discussion noted prior local West Nile cases and framed the program as a public-health response; one council member said recent disease reports were a driving factor for the program. The council unanimously approved the item on the roll call vote.

The contractor said the city would be divided into roughly three spray routes and that the program includes larval work, adult truck spraying and municipality-level disease testing performed at a Flint lab. Residents with concerns or who wish to opt out were directed to contact the contractor’s office through the city for notification arrangements.