Three Forks Mosquito Board approves minutes, reviews 2025–26 budget and operations plans

The Three Forks Mosquito Board approved its minutes and reviewed budget and operational plans during a meeting that included discussion of contractor arrangements for trapping and adult mosquito control, West Nile virus testing, and preparations for the next meeting where officers will be elected.

Board members said the district’s fiscal 2025 budget is $12,476.29 and discussed a fiscal 2026 figure reported in the meeting as about $14,485 (the transcript contains two close figures, $14,485.81 and $14,485.89). The board also discussed ongoing use of contractors for adulticide work and plans to continue trap counts and West Nile surveillance through samples sent to Carroll College.

The budget figures and operational details matter because they determine the district’s ability to purchase and house equipment, maintain timely spraying schedules, and pay contractors during high-need periods. Board members raised concerns about equipment storage and travel costs that affect service timeliness in the Three Forks area.

During the meeting Chair, Three Forks Mosquito Board, opened the meeting, called for public comment (none was offered), and led the procedural approval of prior minutes. A board member moved to approve the minutes from July 16, 2024; the Chair seconded the motion and the board voted in favor.

Board discussion then turned to the budget and contractor arrangements. A board member reported, “In meeting with Bill, we did get him broken down into each district having its own budget. So the fiscal budget for 2025 is $12,476.29,” and added that the FY2026 budget number was about $14,485 (the number was read aloud twice with minor variation as $14,485.81 and $14,485.89 in the transcript). The same speaker said the district’s current budget appears to cover more than the district needs but that salary line items were being adjusted by staff (Debbie Kelly was named as the person expected to correct salary accounting).

On operations, board members said they will continue trap counts for the district this season and will contract again with John Semple for at‑least some services. One board member explained the difficulty of servicing the area without a local equipment location: “Without having a place down there for equipment, it's gonna be hard for us to provide a service without spending a lot of money in travel.” The board discussed the option of putting a contractor out to bid for the opposite side of the river (the contractor currently handling Gallatin County’s portion was mentioned).

The board also discussed West Nile virus surveillance. A board member said nuisance species tend to increase in wetter years while the species that more commonly carry West Nile prefer drier, hotter, stagnant water; based on local timing the board member said the district may not see West Nile activity until August. The board confirmed that collected mosquito samples will be sent to Carroll College for testing; the transcript states that Dr. Hokit has a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services that funds West Nile surveillance testing.

Board members noted that the Three Forks district does not currently have its own staff for adulticide operations and that adulticide work remains contracted. The town’s mosquito person is doing trapping for the Three Forks district and a portion of that person’s salary is paid from the district budget, according to comments made in the meeting.

Before adjourning, the board set its next meeting for July 15 at 3:30 p.m. and noted that the next agenda will include election of officers and approval of bylaws. A Chair’s remark mentioned a reported rumor that Commissioner Swinson may want to be chair; the remark was presented as a rumor rather than a formal nomination.

The meeting adjourned after routine announcements and no additional public comment.