Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Vector Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dalhart council discusses intensified mosquito spraying, new chemicals and foggers; aerial spray to be priced
Summary
City staff described a switch to new insecticides, deployment of GPS‑equipped sprayers and a thermal fogger for areas like Bird Lake and cemeteries; council asked staff to obtain aerial‑spray pricing but took no formal action.
City staff told the Dalhart City Council on June 9 that the city has switched mosquito control chemicals after several years using one product and has added new equipment, including GPS‑equipped sprayers and a thermal fogger, to reach grassy and open areas such as Bird Lake and cemeteries.
Mosquito control staff said crews have been spraying daily since May 22 and that the new chemical and equipment produced noticeably fewer mosquitoes in treated neighborhoods. Staff described a strategy of rotating two chemicals (switching barrels when they run out) to reduce adaptation by mosquito populations.
The city said briquettes are being deployed in standing‑water locations including Bird Lake and that crews are evaluating drainage work and tree clearing to reduce breeding habitat. Staff also emphasized that residents should mow grass and treat yards as part of an integrated control strategy.
Council discussed the possibility of contracting aerial spraying. Staff said aerial thermal fogging could use the same oil‑based chemical currently in use, that thermal foggers produce a large particulate cloud and that battery‑powered respiratory systems are used for some handheld units. The council directed staff to obtain pricing for an aerial spray option but did not authorize expenditures; staff said they would monitor the new ground program for several weeks before deciding whether to proceed with aerial work.
No formal vote or ordinance resulted from the discussion. Staff said they will continue daily spraying while tracking weather windows (temperature below about 73°F and winds under 10 mph) when treatments are effective.
