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RAver <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br /> Item t 4.6. <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL <br /> <br /> STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING & <br /> ZONING ADMINISTRATOR <br /> <br /> JUNE 4, 2001 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: MOSQUITO CONTROL <br /> <br /> METROPOLITAN MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT <br />Staff had a lengthy conversation with Mike McLean of the Metropolitan Mosquito <br />Control District and gathered the following information: <br /> <br />About the District <br />The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is a special taxing district authorized by the <br />Legislature. The District is controlled by a seventeen member commission who are <br />County Commissioners from the seven metropolitan counties. Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, <br />and Ramsey Counties all have three members on the Commission; Washington and Scott <br />Counties have two members each and Carver County has one. <br /> <br />How the District Operates <br />Ninety percent of the Mosquito Control District's efforts are aimed at killing the <br />mosquitoes in the larval stage of their life cycle. This has proven to be the most cost <br />effective technique. The District will do adult mosquito control on request where there is <br />a community benefit, such as a Fourth of July celebration, but the effects of this type of <br />control are very short lived. <br /> <br />The District begins their efforts inside the core metropolitan area and work their way out. <br />However, they do give a priority rating to outlying areas of high population. For <br />example, because of their population the cities of Rogers, Andover and Ramsey are <br />considered priority one areas. Dayton and Oak Grove Township are priority two areas. <br />The core of Elk River would certhinly be considered a priority one area, but the outlying <br />rural area of Elk River would probably be a priority two area. <br /> <br />Environmental Effects <br />The District sprays wetland areas with BTI attached to ground up corncobs to kill <br />mosquitoes in their larval stage. Areas greater than three acres in size are sprayed by <br />helicopter. BTI is a biological control. The larva ingest this bacteria, which produces a <br />protein that crystallizes inside them, they can't digest it and they die. This bacterium is <br />very specific to mosquitoes and is therefore safe to other life forms. <br /> <br />Years ago, things like fuel oil were used to suffocate the mosquito larva. Obviously this <br />would not be an environmentally sound method to use. The Metropolitan Mosquito <br /> <br />Phone: 763.441.7420 <br />Fax: 763.441.7425 <br /> <br />www. ci.elk-rivenmn.us <br /> <br /> <br />