Published: July 28, 2008 09:41 pm            

TOWN OF LEWISTON: Skeeters stalking locals

Mosquitoes don’t have to worry about spraying

It’s been one heckuva summer in Lewiston.

For mosquitoes, that is.

Anecdotal reports from town residents and officials have this tagged as a banner year for mosquitoes, bolstered by the frequent rain which creates standing water and perfect breeding grounds.

But that isn’t enough to convince officials that spraying from an aircraft into town is an answer. Both Councilman Ernest Palmer and Supervisor Fred Newlin nixed the idea at Monday’s town board meeting.

The flyover remedy would have cost about $70,000, and Palmer pointed out that this late in the summer it probably wouldn’t be cost-effective. He used as an example a spraying done in 2004 in Lewiston, which was found not to significantly affect mosquito populations in before-and-after studies done by the county Department of Health.

It could also damage trees and possibly wildlife, Newlin said. Those concerned about mosquitoes can visit town hall on Ridge Road to receive smaller devices to keep mosquitoes out of their yards or advice on over-the-counter products.

Newlin also mentioned the particular kind of mosquitoes in the town right now have a 20-mile radius from the place they’re born.

“If we could get rid of ours we could still have mosquitoes from Porter and Niagara Falls feasting upon us,” Newlin said.

In other town matters:

• The vote is in and the street lights are going up. The town board responded to requests for street lights at two housing developments, unanimously approving two lights on Chicora Drive and one at Vista North. As more houses fill in Vista North another light could be added.

• The board unanimously approved allocating $80,000 to the town Highway Department for gasoline. The highway department administers gasoline to all town employees who use town vehicles.

Councilman Sean Edwards said everybody’s cut back on car usage but the fuel budget would run out in September without the extra funds.

“No cutbacks are going to overcome a 35 to 40 percent increase (in gas prices),” Edwards said.

        

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