Manager's Report - 2005
PHONE
800-231-3236 (toll free)
707-285-2200 (office)
707-285-2210 (fax)
ADDRESS
595 Helman Lane
Cotati, California
94931-9736
HOURS
Monday through Friday
7:00am to 3:30pm
Closed
11:30am - 12:30pm
Jim Wanderscheid, District Manager
The year 2005 brought the District more challenges and changes than ever before in its 90 years of service.
The voter-approved annexation of previously uncovered areas in western Marin and coastal and northern Sonoma counties increased our size from 960 to 2,300 square miles, making ours one of the state’s largest mosquito and vector control agencies. This growth required a staff increase from 17 to 36 full time employees.
The best news was that while California health services recorded more than 900 cases of human West Nile virus disease, Marin and Sonoma counties had none. An unusually cool summer helped limit the seasonal mosquito growth, but without a doubt, if it weren’t for the District’s outreach program and the determined efforts of the entire staff, the picture could well have been much different. Nevertheless, like the indigenous Western Equine and St. Louis encephalitis viruses, West Nile virus must now be dealt with as a permanent feature of California’s environment.
The District will continue its proactive approach to the services we provide to the citizens of Marin and Sonoma counties. Planning and education, along with physical control through environmental modification, are the main tools the District relies upon to protect the health of our residents. We look forward to continued involvement with our cities, counties and state agencies to achieve the least toxic approach to mosquito control.
I am currently working on a 5-year plan with four areas of focus: District Programs, Personnel, Fiscal, and Building needs.
I would like to express my personal thanks to the members of the Board of Trustees, for all their dedicated work during this very challenging and rewarding year.