Prosper council approves five‑year mosquito-control contract; members ask about duration and chemicals

The Prosper Town Council on Tuesday approved a multi‑year contract for mosquito control services as part of the consent agenda, and council members used the consent discussion to press staff on contract length, seasonal use and environmental impacts.

The contract under consideration would cover 21 weeks of service priced at $760 per week for trap deployment and pickup; staff said the annual not-to-exceed amount is approximately $15,119 and the five‑year total is not to exceed $75,000. Council Member Marcus Ray asked whether the town could approve a shorter duration given upcoming construction and potential reduced need for service.

Town staff (identified in the discussion as Mr. Hoover) told councilors the vendor contract is written as a five‑year agreement with renewable terms but contains a cancellation clause that allows the town to cancel with 30 days’ notice. “The short answer is yes. We can cancel the contract,” Hoover said, adding that the town does not have to use all available services (fogging, etc.) if not needed and that the last fogging had occurred in 2020.

Council members also raised concerns about environmental effects. Ray asked whether the granular materials used near drainage areas would wash away in heavy rainfall; another councilor suggested alternatives such as adding fill dirt to eliminate standing water in some locations. Hoover said staff can coordinate maintenance where standing water occurs on public property but that the program primarily targets known complaint locations and public‑property standing water; the contractor’s pricing reflected services the town had historically purchased.

Council action: The motion to approve consent agenda item 3 was made by Marcus Ray and seconded by Jeff Hodges; the council approved the consent agenda and the mosquito control item passed unanimously.

Details from the meeting: The contract is seasonal (May–October), staff estimated $760 per week for 21 weeks, and there is a 30‑day cancellation clause. Staff also noted that not all services would be used continuously and that the solicitation followed the expiration of an earlier contract.

Staff said the town will continue routine maintenance options where appropriate and treat only locations with confirmed issues or complaints; if insurance or other programmatic changes are considered, council requested follow‑up information.