LIVE IN FOUR CORNERS? MOSQUITO PROBLEMS?

Four Corners resident Virgina Sutton told the St. Mary Parish Council last night that employees with Mosquito Control Contractors, Inc, the council’s mosquito control surveillance partners, are not providing proper spray service to the area, saying she was told by someone who spoke to one of the drivers, that the service is being conducted during the day, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., “due to issues you all have in Four Corners.”

“I would like to tell Mosquito Control Contractors, Inc., and anybody else for that matter, that you don’t have to be afraid of anything or anyone in Four Corners,”Sutton said. “I’m tired of being in my yard and getting eaten up. No one really sees the mosquito guy. It’s hard to pin point his schedule,” she said.

Sutton commented that residents of the area pay $2 a month for mosquito control. “I’d like to see it working,” she said.

Councilman Craig Matthews said he was told by the Principal of the Glencoe Charter School, that the drivers are spraying during the day from 8am to 3:30 p.m. “However, I know he comes down La. 318, where I live at night, around 8:30, because I sometimes see him.”

Councilman David Hanagriff, of Centerville, said that if Mosquito Control is spraying during the day, “I doubt its effectiveness. It’s obvious you guys, maybe some others, are getting the short end of the stick.”

Councilman Matthews questioned St. Mary Parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry "Bo" LaGrange. “Doesn’t our contract all for situations, where if there is a documented request, there should be immediate attention called to that area? Shouldn’t the contractor be willing to help with those problems?”

Councilman Albert Foulcard questioned where the monthly report was from the mosquito contractor. “Where is our monthly report? Why haven’t we been receiving this? We need to know when, where and how frequently spraying has been going on in the middle of the day, as well as in the night!”

Councilman Kevin Voisin, of Morgan City, questioned LaGrange on the expiration date of the contract with Mosquito Control. “The previous parish council signed this contract. We inherited it. When does this expire? Can we start looking at that? Can we perhaps think about looking into bringing this program in house?” Voisin asked.

Councilman Ken Singleton, who represents Patterson and its unincorporated areas agreed. “Mosquitoes are atrocious right now!”

LaGrange responded to all of the comments, saying, “Well this is the first time I’ m hearing of these things. People need to call me.”

Sutton replied to LaGrange, “Well I’m going to make a flier with your phone number and distribute it throughout Four Corners. People didn’t know who to contact. Now they will. You’ll be getting calls,” she said.

If you live in Four Corners, or anywhere else in St. Mary Parish, and mosquitoes are taking too much of a bite out of you and your family. Or if you don't see spraying in your neighborhood, please call St. Mary Parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry "Bo" LaGrange, and report the problem. He works at the parish courthouse, 337-828-4100...just press o and ask for his extension.