The cost of each bench is $1098. Are WE taxpayers going to get gold plated ones for that price?
A new mosquito fee for Augusta residents and businesses got scratched Monday.
Members of the city's administrative services committee slapped down a request from mosquito control officials to add a 50-cent monthly charge to water customers' bills.
Operations Manager Fred Koehle said Richmond County is having a serious mosquito problem, especially with "daytime mosquitoes," that are carrying new diseases.
He said mosquito control is treating 75 pools on a regular basis in an effort to hold down the mosquito population . He said residents
move and leave swimming pools filled with water.
He also passed around photos of discarded auto tires filled with standing water.
After looking at the photos, Commissioner Jimmy Smith asked whether mosquito control would be able to clean up such city code violations if commissioners approved the tax.
Mr. Koehle said they could possibly do it but had nothing set up to do it now.
Commissioner Joe Bowles said just because some irresponsible homeowners weren't keeping their property cleaned up, the responsible ones in his district shouldn't have to pay.
City Administrator Fred Russell said responsible property owners are already paying through their property taxes.
"The root of the evil is people violating our policies," said Mr. Bowles.
Mr. Koehle said mosquito control is spending $1.27 per resident this year, and with the new fee per-capita spending would be $1.89 a year.
"I think what we're asking for is a bargain," Mr. Koehle said.
Commissioner Don Grantham said the need for mosquito control is real but not through a new tax.
He proposed that any necessary increase should be done through the city's 2009 budget process.
"As long as it stays off the water bill," said Commissioner J.R. Hatney.
All committee votes will go before the full Augusta Commission next week.
Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
Also Monday, committees:
- Approved buying 30 benches for Centennial Plaza in the 700 block of Broad Street for $32,940
- Authorized the utilities department to name the new administration and filter building at the Highland Avenue water treatment plant in honor of Alfred T. Griffin Sr., a longtime employee
- Approved a contract with Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates Inc. for architectural and engineering design consulting services associated with the planned Trade and Exhibition Center
- Voted to re-bid the city's health insurance and fleet maintenance contracts
Comments
The cost of each bench is $1098. Are WE taxpayers going to get gold plated ones for that price?
Just be glad they didn't let a certain coliseum authority lawyer negotiate for them.
"I think what we're asking for is a bargain," Mr. Koehle said. Watch out Fred, I think someone has got their eye on the City Administrator position.
People move and leave many things that help to spread mosquitoes. Augusta/Richmond County should be placing liens against the unoccupied properties to pay for the health services rendered. If the owners will not then take financial responsibility for thier actions then sell the property on the courthouse steps.
If the new owner does not take care of THEIR problem, attach the property and sell it again.
"Abandoned swimming pools can, over the course of a month, produce thousands of mosquitoes," said Jonathan Day, professor of medical entomology at the University of Florida. "You have a whole new source of mosquitoes you didn't have before, and these are mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus."
West Nile virus and Eastern Equine encephalitis virus are in Georgia already, why take a chance?
Infectious diseases experts say West Nile virus is in the United States to stay and other mosquito transmited diseases, like, malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever, may show up anytime.
The Mosquito control dept. should be able to legally bill the owners of the property they have to treat and if they fail to pay then the city should take the responsibility to handle the legal side of putting a lein on the property until such payments are made. The city should quit sweeping people's failure under the rug like the Wall Street mess. People are irrisponsible and no one is holding them accountable. Hold these residents accountable for a change and if they fail to comply then take their property and sell it for a bargin price on the court house steps. The responsible hard working tax payers are tired of taking care of the inept. City Gov't is reponsible for holding these people accountable, get off of your thrones and get to work and do your jobs.
There is a Code Enforcement Department, so why don't the Augusta-Richmond County Commission REQUIRE that they do their job!
keysandlocks: I agree with your comment about the benches. Looks like another one of those 'sweet deals' from the Augusta-Richmond County Procurement Department!
WTH is this mosquito control? I've never seen a truck spray once and I live in Mr. Bowles district. While we're on the subject, perhaps we should send the commissioners a photo of a street sweeper to introduce them to the equipment. Augusta is the only southern city I've seen that doesn't use both of these frequently. These guys love to talk about nonexistent services for residents.
Be glad you have mosquito control in Richmond County!!! Columbia County doesn't have mosquito trucks and we could get carried away by the bugs out here. I'd GLADLY pay 50 cent per month for that service!!!!!!
bergen42: I have seen them spraying in my neigborhood, but it's hard to see if it does any good. My only problem is if an extra fee will actually be used for that purpose. "Mr. Koehle said mosquito control is spending $1.27 per resident this year, and with the new fee per-capita spending would be $1.89 a year." A 50-cent monthly charge adds up to $6.00, so where would the 'extra' money be going?
It's like recycling. They want you to recycle, but expect you to pay for the water and sewerage charge to wash out milk and other recyclable food containers.
Put the onus on the property owners and not the tax payers.
Maybe a good spray with BUG OFF would be good for the Commissioners.
The point needs to be made that responsible homeowners should not be forced to carry the cost of mosquito control because of a few irresponsible people. We will be looking at the best way to fine and carry out the penalties on the violators.
Mosquito control is not just spraying, it's using bio-controls that kill the larva where they breed and destroying their habitat.
Mosquitto Control should be held responsible for notifying code enforcement for these violations. All monies colleceted for these infractions could be used to boost or at least pay for additional services rendered. Homeowners in violation should be paying the bills, not tax payers. For homes on the market, simply attatch a bill via a lien on the property and include all fees associated with work performed and administrative services for having to track down the violators, etc. The same should go for those homeowners not cutting their grass, etc.
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