Mosquito spraying would take too big of bite out of Walbridge budget

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WALBRIDGE – There’s not enough money this year to pay for mosquito spraying, which can be ineffective,
according to the mayor.
At Wednesday’s meeting, council was questioned by a resident about why there would not be mosquito
spraying control in the village this summer.
"Mosquitoes are getting pretty bad, you know. We can’t have mosquito spray?" asked Jan Sawaya,
a former councilwoman.
Mayor Ed Kolanko said revenues in the village are down $60,000 to $65,000 annually. He added that nearby
Lake Township is not going to spray either.
"The effectiveness … of the mosquito spray is minimal at most," Kolanko said. "If it
doesn’t touch the mosquito, it’s not going to do any damage."
He also said that council made the unanimous decision at a meeting in June.
Free dunks from the Wood County Health Department are available for pickup at the village hall.
After the meeting, Kolanko said that revenue is down because one of the larger village employers is not
paying as much income tax as in previous years.
He also said that mosquito spraying, which the village has done for many years, costs between $10,000 and
$12,000.
In other business, council approved an emergency ordinance transferring $830,042 remaining in the bond
retirement fund.
Kolanko said this is not new money, but it has been logged in the wrong budget line item since the Grove
Street project was completed. The process for transferring the money, which included a court petition,
started in February.
The money will go to the general fund (65 percent), municipal services fund (25 percent) and capital
improvement fund (10 percent).
Also at the meeting, council:
• Heard the Union Street improvement project should be completed at the end of next week.
• Had the first reading on paying $6,000 to Mike’s Hauling and Demolition, Northwood, to demolish the
home and garage at 223 Guy St., clean up and haul away the debris, and backfill the area. Council also
heard the third and final reading on an ordinance that allows the removal of public nuisances, including
dilapidated homes like this one. Council voted last fall to condemn the home, which Kolanko said has
been neglected for a couple of years.
• Accepted the donation of a parcel of land at 121 Clinton St. by the Gilliam family. After the meeting,
Kolanko said the land may be donated or sold to Habitat for Humanity.
• Heard Council President Ron Liwo report that the budget and finance committee will work on a
counter-proposal for Waste Management on a new trash collection contract. The contract was up in late
winter, but council is unhappy with the proposed price increase.
• Approved a twilight fee for Aqua Terrace. Pool visitors between 6 and 8 p.m. will be charged $1,
compared to the regular $3 daily rate.
• Declined to approve a motion to excuse Councilwoman Lauren LaRoe, who was not at the meeting.

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