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Freeport mosquito-control staff outlines spray schedule, storm-drain inspections and bee-safeguards
Summary
City mosquito-control staff (Daniel) described plans to treat storm drains, deploy fish to holding ponds, and spray twice weekly inside city limits starting next week, and staff agreed to post operational reports online and to work with beekeepers.
City mosquito-control staff provided a program update to the City of Freeport council on Sept. 25, describing planned operations to reduce mosquito populations and addressing concerns from residents about bees.
Daniel (mosquito-control staff) told the council he has logged GPS coordinates for roughly 3,000 storm drains and plans six-month treatments for those structures plus routine stocking of holding ponds with fish that eat mosquito larvae. He said spray routes will operate Wednesday (Bay Loop route) and Thursday (Highway 331/Business 331 route) nights inside city limits, with neighboring jurisdictions handling adjacent areas. Daniel said a droplet-size test (SWATED) confirmed spray micron levels target smaller insects and are designed not to harm bees when beehives are at least 100 feet from the spray machine; he also said he can add beehive locations to his routing software if beekeepers register them.
Council members requested the mosquito updates be posted to the city website so residents can review recent activity and treatment reports. A council member raised concerns about impacts to bees; Daniel committed to work with beekeepers and to minimize exposure when hives are identified.
No policy changes or new funding were approved at the meeting; staff will implement the operational schedule and post reports online as requested.
