The current budget debate in the City of Albert Lea is an interesting chapter in the local lore relating to our unofficial state bird, the beloved mosquito. I had the honor of participating in the last chapter of this saga nearly seven years ago. I remember the occasion well since it coincided with the birth of our first child in July of 2001. That year, the term “unbearable” does not even begin to describe how bad the mosquitoes were in Albert Lea. As first time (protective) parents, the severity of the mosquitoes left an impression. I faintly remember that the situation was bad in prior years, but in 2001 it affected us profoundly.
As we prepared for our first child, we sprayed the yard and purchased mosquito netting to cover the car seat and stroller just so we could carry our child from the car. We lived on the southwest side of town and I remember literally running to my mailbox and back just to pick up the mail in the afternoon. Our backyard was un-usable after early spring.
That summer, we would apply large quantities of repellant and attempt to “go for a walk.” I remember running home after a block or two because we were overcome with the swarms of neighbors that came out to greet us. Unfortunately, our human neighbors were not quite as accessible. Needless to say, our quality of life in Albert Lea was suffering.
How does this relate to today? Well, I am hearing echoes of what I encountered seven years ago. At that time, I approached the city and inquired as to why they were not spaying for mosquitoes. The answer I received was that the city had disposed of their mosquito spraying equipment and that spraying simply did not work. I still have the newspaper article where the City gave the following response to the infestation:
I do not accept the statement that spraying does not work.
What I do accept is that the city has some tough budget decisions to make and perhaps mosquito spraying is a service that will be cut. So far, though, it appears that they have tried to only grab the low hanging fruit. Mosquito spraying is being presented as having questionable value and discretionary. The city can then argue that if citizens want this type of “extra”, they need to pay for them through fees or more likely as justification for a huge tax increase next year.
The initial work of the city and the budget advisory committee is commendable – more information is always better. Unfortunately, this is only the very beginning of the process, not the end. The tough question remains: how to provide long-term, affordable “core” local government services.
The statement that mosquito spraying is equal to one city employee is telling to the natural mentality of the city entering this process – protecting their turf. http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/mar/07/should-city-spray-mosquitoes/. Reportedly, 80% of the city budget is personnel driven. How many mosquito-type discussions can occur without addressing the elephant in the room? Government and businesses across the country are already implementing personnel cuts and restructuring which services are provided and how.
City officials must accept responsibility for their decisions. If they choose to cut mosquito spraying-type services, they must accept responsibility for the replacement of neighborhood block parties with neighborhood swarms of uninvited guests. They cannot displace their responsibility by blaming the state or others for their woes. Accepting the status quo for 80% of the budget is a decision to raise taxes next year – no amount of repellant can protect city officials from that bite.
As we prepared for our first child, we sprayed the yard and purchased mosquito netting to cover the car seat and stroller just so we could carry our child from the car. We lived on the southwest side of town and I remember literally running to my mailbox and back just to pick up the mail in the afternoon. Our backyard was un-usable after early spring.
That summer, we would apply large quantities of repellant and attempt to “go for a walk.” I remember running home after a block or two because we were overcome with the swarms of neighbors that came out to greet us. Unfortunately, our human neighbors were not quite as accessible. Needless to say, our quality of life in Albert Lea was suffering.
How does this relate to today? Well, I am hearing echoes of what I encountered seven years ago. At that time, I approached the city and inquired as to why they were not spaying for mosquitoes. The answer I received was that the city had disposed of their mosquito spraying equipment and that spraying simply did not work. I still have the newspaper article where the City gave the following response to the infestation:
“Years ago (the city) used to spray for mosquitoes but it’s really notAnyone who knows me is aware that I was raised in a family that simply does not accept statements such as, “that’s just the way it is.” Instead, I did what any expecting dad would do in the same situation. I started a petition drive and initiated a grass roots call for the city to control its mosquito population. My “Anti-Mosquito Petition” read as follows:
effective. You kill one and a hundred come to his funeral. [The City official added that] he is sure the pests affect how the parks are used, but there is not much that can be done besides using mosquito repellent. That’s just the way it is, he said.”
“To protect the quality of life in Albert Lea, including but not limited to: being able to mow your yard, being able to walk in your yard, being able to walkAs you can probably imagine, the petition went over quite well and people decided that they did not have to accept the situation -- “just the way it is.” Prior to even finalizing and presenting the popular petition to the city, they acted. http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2001/jun/29/city-sprays-for-mosquitoes/ The city remembered that they still had the old mosquito spraying equipment and discovered that a company from southern Minnesota could be hired to effectively spray to control the infestation. In response to community demand, the city began spraying for mosquitoes in 2001. Guess what the citizens of Albert Lea have been quietly doing for the past seven years? Mowing their yards; walking in their yards; walking down the street and going outside for more than 30 seconds at a time!
down the street, being outdoors for more than 30 seconds, the ability to do anything outside, the ability to attract business to Albert Lea, the protection of tourism and business in the city, the protection of property values and in general, the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, we the undersigned demand that all reasonable efforts be taken to control the mosquito population in Albert Lea.”
I do not accept the statement that spraying does not work.
What I do accept is that the city has some tough budget decisions to make and perhaps mosquito spraying is a service that will be cut. So far, though, it appears that they have tried to only grab the low hanging fruit. Mosquito spraying is being presented as having questionable value and discretionary. The city can then argue that if citizens want this type of “extra”, they need to pay for them through fees or more likely as justification for a huge tax increase next year.
The initial work of the city and the budget advisory committee is commendable – more information is always better. Unfortunately, this is only the very beginning of the process, not the end. The tough question remains: how to provide long-term, affordable “core” local government services.
The statement that mosquito spraying is equal to one city employee is telling to the natural mentality of the city entering this process – protecting their turf. http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/mar/07/should-city-spray-mosquitoes/. Reportedly, 80% of the city budget is personnel driven. How many mosquito-type discussions can occur without addressing the elephant in the room? Government and businesses across the country are already implementing personnel cuts and restructuring which services are provided and how.
City officials must accept responsibility for their decisions. If they choose to cut mosquito spraying-type services, they must accept responsibility for the replacement of neighborhood block parties with neighborhood swarms of uninvited guests. They cannot displace their responsibility by blaming the state or others for their woes. Accepting the status quo for 80% of the budget is a decision to raise taxes next year – no amount of repellant can protect city officials from that bite.
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