SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to enter into a grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the 2019 Mosquito-borne Disease Control Grant.
Effective from January through Dec. 31, 2019, the grant is not to exceed $30,000.
According to DEP, this funding will help the county reduce the threat of mosquito-borne disease through integrated management practices and the surveillance of ticks associated with human pathogenic disease.
DEP officials said, “Consistent targeting of mosquito populations with larvicides is considered the most effective way to prevent a large scale mosquito outbreak. Adult mosquito control is used to reduce large populations of diseased mosquitoes.”
Mosquito larvae sampling will be conducted April through August, weather permitting. Larva sampling will be conducted in areas of McKean County that have historically high mosquito populations. These include Eldred and Port Allegany boroughs, as well as Eldred, Otto and Annin townships. Monitoring will be conducted near citizen complaint areas and habitats that frequently flood along the Allegheny River and Potato Creek, DEP officials reported.
Adult mosquito surveillance is to be done May through August, again depending on the weather.
Decisions to spray will be impacted by human populations, weather, mosquito species, history of the site and vegetation/environment. Adult mosquito control work is only done after DEP approval.
In other news, commissioners also approved a securities services agreement with Time Keeping Systems Inc. of Solon, Ohio, and Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool for the McKean County Jail at a cost of $4,192.51.
This covers the purchase and installation of an electronic guard tour system that records activities such as times and locations and transfers the information for reporting purposes.
Commissioners also OKd a one-year renewal of the insurance policy with Two Rivers Benefits Consultants for the Community Services Program. The cost is $759 and covers 230 participants at $3.30 per person.
Action by the commissioners granted the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s request for tax exempt status for 2019 for its Bureau of Facility Design/Construction Land Resource Section at 12759 Wilcox Road in Sergeant Township because the 120-acre property is state-owned. The assessed valuation is $101,690.
The commissioners usually meet the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, but the February meeting is slated for 10 a.m. Feb. 14.
