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The city spends $15,000 to $20,00 each year on its mosquito control program, Boehmer said. It started its own mosquito control program about six years ago. Before that, the city contracted with a private company for the service.
These control systems start anywhere from late March to early April and run until the first frost.
The city implements two ways to control the mosquito population, Boehmer said.
The street department distributes Anvil, a chemical used for ground-fogging, during peak mosquito times. It's sprayed throughout the city one hour before and after sunrise and sunset. This fogging kills only adult mosquitoes in the air.
Boehmer said that this spray has no health or environmental side effects and it is safer than pesticides homeowners use in their own backyards.
To kill larvae, growing in stagnant water, the street department uses VectoLex, a larvicide that only treats areas of old, standing water. It is a gel capsule that dissolves and distributes chemicals in the stagnant water.
"I want to caution the public that the worst times to be outside are early morning and early evening," he said. "If you are going to use any of our parks during these periods, self-treat with bug repellent."
There are ways for residents to help eliminate mosquitoes in their homes, according to Boehmer.
* Destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water.
* Do not allow water to accumulate at the base of flower pots or in pet dishes for more than two days.
* Clean debris from gutters.
* Change water in birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week.
* Stock ornamental pools with top feeding mosquito fish or use biological larvicide.
* Fill or drain puddles, ditches and swampy areas.
* Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.
