Vector board hears contractor update and discusses seeking bids for drone aerial spraying

The Central Lyon County Vector District Board heard a technical report from its pest-control contractor on May 12 and discussed seeking bids for a drone aerial spraying contract but took no formal action to award one.

Tim Plants, Integrity Pest Manager for Integrity Pest Management, briefed the board on river flows, blackfly activity, mosquito-light trap results, larvicide applications and adulticide fogging, and said applications to standing water and along the river remain ongoing. Board members discussed different approaches to abatement, including the potential use of drones for aerial spraying and the need to solicit bids for such services.

Chair Tyler Minor and the board did not move to authorize or award a drone contract that night; they directed that a drone aerial contract be developed and brought to the board for consideration at a future meeting. The board also previewed that the drone contract would appear on the June 9 agenda for further action.

The contractor update reflected routine surveillance and treatment activity rather than a change in policy: officials cited trap data and river-flow observations as the basis for ongoing larvicide and adulticide work. No public comments were made during the discussion.

Next steps: staff and the contractor will prepare procurement materials and a draft contract or bid specification for the board to review at an upcoming meeting.