DEAR WAYNEDALE READERS
Summer is here, and we’re excited about all of the positive developments occurring in our city. We’re making great progress in revitalizing downtown, Southtown Centre is under construction, $46 million of infrastructure improvements are being made, and our greenways and parks are filled with residents enjoying the nice weather.
One area we’ve been working on is reducing the harmful effects of ozone pollution. The City of Fort Wayne has been developing strategies to improve government performance and raise public awareness about the impact of ozone pollution. The City has implemented several programs to help reduce ozone. Seven hybrid vehicles have been purchased to replace older vehicles. The new vehicles will save the City $112,000 in fuel costs. The hybrid vehicles increase fuel efficiency and reduce ozone pollution. More than 300 City vehicles that previously ran on diesel fuel now run on biodiesel fuel. Emissions have been lowered at the City’s asphalt plant resulting in a savings of $40,000. Cleaner burning methane gas is now used at the City’s Water Pollution Control Plant. As a result, the City no longer purchases nearly 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year.
We are moving in the right direction to reach attainment levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency. We must be committed to a clean environment to attract new businesses and jobs to our community. Quality of life issues are key elements to building a better city.
Another summertime safety concern is West Nile Virus. City crews are placing Altosid briquets in nearly 5,000 catch basins. Altosid is an insect growth regulator that is used to reduce the mosquito population. This is the third year the City has used Altosid in catch basins. Catch basins are important breeding grounds for mosquitoes, in particular the Culex pipiens, the main mosquitoes involved in the transmission cycle for West Nile Virus. The placing of Altosid briquets in catch basins was a recommendation of a West Nile B.E.S.T. Team that I created to look at ways to prevent the spread of the West Nile Virus.
There are several things you can do to prevent West Nile Virus. Remove tires, buckets, drums, and bottles from your yard. Change the water in birdbaths and plant drip trays once a week. Clean and chlorinate outdoor swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs, and gutters. Keep weeds and grass cut short. Consider wearing a long-sleeved shirt and long pants when you are outdoors during peak mosquito times.
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