Brookhaven aldermen are taking steps to get a better controlover the city’s mosquito population.

The board Tuesday accepted aldermen subcommittee’srecommendations to begin spraying for mosquitoes on April 15, topurchase new equipment and chemicals and to seek public assistancein reducing breeding grounds for the pests.

Alderman-at-large Les Bumgarner said spraying would be done fournights a week on a rotating basis or as needed.

“We’ll spray the wards as needed, unless we have some troublespots,” Bumgarner said.

Bumgarner said the subcommittee, including Ward Four AldermanBob Massengill and Ward Five’s Tom Smith, developed therecommendations during a recent meeting with Street DepartmentSuperintendent Jimmy Griffin and Billy Case, who handles mosquitospraying duties.

The subcommittee also recommended purchasing a new sprayingmachine to replace the current one, which officials said was old,and to purchase one or two small hand-held sprayers. Bumgarner saidthe small sprayers could be used for work under bridges and otherhard to reach areas

Aldermen voted to seek bids on the new equipment. Bumgarner saidthe sprayer for the back of the truck was estimated to cost around$700 while the small devices will be about $25.

“When you spray, it makes people feel good, but it only killsthe mosquitoes it comes in contact with,” Bumgarner said. “It’seffective, but it’s not a cure all.”

Also along those lines, the subcommittee recommended an increasein the larvacide tablet allotment. That move is designed to killeggs and larva before they become adults.

“They’re environmentally safe,” the alderman said.

Bumgarner said the tablets could be placed in areas of standingwater. A good thing he mentioned is that, after water drains off,the tablets remain and will reactivate when the area fills withwater again.

“This is really the way you need to go,” Bumgarner said.”Prevention is better than killing them (once they reachadulthood.)”

Mosquito spraying activities were questioned last year during adispute over private property issues and whether city crews couldgo there to spray. The subcommittee addressed that by saying thatcity employees will not be permitted to spray on privateproperty.

“We decided to stay within the law, whatever the law permits usto do,” Bumgarner said.

While city activities can kill mosquitoes, the subcommittee alsorecommended a flyer be sent to city water department customers. Theflyer details efforts homeowners can take to prevent development ofmosquito breeding grounds.

Bumgarner said every bit of information given to the publichelps. He said he wanted to use every source of public informationavailable and get the information to citizens as soon aspossible.

“Mosquito control is something we all need to help out with,”Bumgarner said.