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8.31.2000 00:00
Woods calls
for additional
mosquito spraying
By MICHAEL SMITH
Journal Staff Writer
WARWICK
-- Michael Woods, the endorsed Democrat in the race for mayor, has proposed spraying for mosquitoes around every school and senior housing complex in Warwick.
"For the safety of our children, I would like to see the city spray the areas around the public and private schools in Warwick before classes start," he said. "I also think we owe it to our older residents to take special care to protect them by spraying around our senior housing complexes."
Woods wrote to Governor Almond on Tuesday asking him to seek federal reimbursement for the spraying programs that began in Warwick on Aug. 15 and have since been extended to Westerly and Newport.
"The spread of mosquitoes bearing the West Nile disease is taking place without regard to state borders," Woods wrote. "Accordingly, by fighting the mosquitoes in Rhode Island we are helping our neighbors in other states. Given this, I believe it would be appropriate for the federal government to reimburse Rhode Island's cities and towns for the mosquito eradication costs they have incurred. I urge you to contact the proper federal authorities and request the funds."
Republican Mayor Scott Avedisian responded yesterday by saying he would not order more spraying unless it was recommended by "the experts" at the state Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We have followed their protocol as to what needs to be done in this situation," he said. "If they felt we had to do additional spraying, I would certainly take their advice."
On the cost issue, Avedisian said he had asked the DEM to reimburse the city for about $4,100 in expenses on the spraying program. The agency has not yet replied to his letter, he said.
"If there's a way for us to get federal reimbursement, we'd be happy to submit all the forms," Avedisian said.
The city recently completed a third application of mosquito larvicide. Avedisian said, "every storm drain, catch basin and retention pond in the city" was treated.
Woods, in his letter to the governor, said more spraying for mosquitoes in Warwick is "absolutely necessary," and that the state should pay.
"Here in Warwick, we have undergone one round of spraying to stem the spread of the infected mosquitoes," he wrote. "Many of us believe more spraying would be beneficial and knowing the federal government would pay for the spraying would make it easier for that spraying to take place."
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