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Jonesboro committee questions Vector Mosquito Control data, requests presentation and clarifications
Summary
Committee members flagged large year-over-year changes in the August 2025 vector mosquito control report — including a jump in average daily trap counts and more inspected sites — and asked staff to request clarification from Vector and to include sample reporting in future bids.
The City of Jonesboro Public Safety Committee reviewed the Vector mosquito control report for August 2025 and asked for clarification about data anomalies and service metrics. Committee members noted a sharp increase in reported average mosquitoes per trap-day (from 7.3 to 73) and a rise in inspected sites year over year (from 12 to 60). The committee chair said the report would be sent back to Vector for clarification and requested a presentation from the company on plans for next year, noting the contract may be expiring.
"I feel like we missed a decimal point on that," the Chair said, referring to the jump in average mosquitoes per day. The Chair also noted the city’s total spray miles were similar year over year but that aerial spray activity had increased: "we had 5 this past month compared to the previous year encompassing a difference of about 40,000 square acres that was covered in the previous month," the Chair said, and asked Vector to explain tactics for the coming year.
Councilman McLean urged more informative reporting and greater engagement from the vendor, noting the company operates in multiple states and could provide comparative metrics. "They do business in 9 states ... The two Harvard MBAs that own the company, maybe they could at least zoom in and talk to us a little bit and have a real conversation," McLean said, adding that sample reporting should be a requirement in future requests for proposals so the city can judge vendors on comparable metrics.
A committee member observed that Vector’s website references data-reporting segmentation that the committee did not recognize in the provided report. Committee members directed staff to request clearer, segmented data from Vector and to require sample reporting in any future RFP so the city can compare vendor metrics across sites and seasons.
No members of the public spoke on the item during the meeting.
The committee moved on to other agenda business after the discussion.
