Mosquito control budget rises as county plans GPS-enabled fogger logging amid West Nile concerns

Dana Evans, Bannock County mosquito abatement supervisor, told commissioners the program’s chemical line increased from about $40,000 to $65,000 and that early-season mosquito activity is raising concerns about West Nile virus.

"As it gets hotter, we start seeing the carriers of the West Nile," Evans said, describing recent ramp tests and local detections. She told the board that fogging materials are expensive and that a single tote can cost more than $10,000; the program now expects to use multiple totes per season.

Evans requested capital funding for a GPS-enabled fogger control box costing roughly $5,200. The unit would record spray routes, allow the crew to flag beehives and opt-out locations, disable the fogger automatically near those points, and provide an auditable route log in the event of complaints. "If there ever was a complaint, I can go back and look and I can actually see where they fogged and I can say yes, we did or no, we did not fog," she said.

Commissioners asked about cooperation inside city limits and storm-water catch basins where standing water can facilitate breeding. Evans said staff have been targeting storm drains and deploying briquette products in catch basins that activate when water is present and deactivate when dry.

The board moved this budget item forward; Evans said she would like the control box included in capital as a contingency in case legislation changes fogging rules. Commissioners did not take a formal vote during the discussion and asked staff to return with final numbers as the budget is finalized.