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Gem County residents want to expand mosquito abatement district

The agency doesn't cover the entire county.

GEM COUNTY - Some people in Gem County are looking to expand the county's mosquito abatement district and they need voter approval.

Gem County, like many other counties in Idaho, has an agency that works to control the pests, but it doesn't cover the entire county. Jason Kinley, the director of the Gem County Mosquito Abatement District, says it wasn't always this way.

"In the 70s many areas in the county opted out because of the agricultural practices in the area,” he said. “And at that time the applications that control mosquitoes were detrimental.”

Now he says more and more people want the service. Right now, there's a ballot initiative to annex a part of the county into the district.

Cindy McBride is the woman behind the movement. She collected more than 100 signatures, more than what she needed, to get the issue on the ballot.

“You can't even go out in the morning,” she said. “If you go out across your yard it's just like mosquitoes are just coming up out of the ground. It's like a fog of mosquitoes.”

Not only are they annoying, but she's concerned about West Nile virus.

"You don't know which mosquito is going to carry that particular disease," she said.

Testing for West Nile and other diseases is something covered by joining the mosquito abatement district. Other services include control efforts, like treating standing water.

“We try to target the areas where mosquitoes like to lay eggs,” Kinley said.

This isn't the first push from an area wanting to join the Gem County Mosquito Abatement District. Back in 2014, Montour, Sweet and Ola had a mosquito problem that kicked off their effort to join the district.

“We still are conducting our work over there,” Kinley said. “An integrated mosquito management program fully integrated in the Montour and Sweet area, and many people are very pleased with our efforts over there.”

Something McBride hopes her area will soon see.

“If you’re not in the mosquito abatement district find out how you go about it,” she said. “It's a little bit of work, but it was worth it in the end. I think. Hopefully, there’s an end.”

If voters approve the annexation, there is a cost for the coverage. But the only people who would see a charge would be those who become part of the district. Those who are already covered will not see a tax increase.

Voters will decide this issue on May 15.

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