Sisters urged to prepare for virus

The West Nile Virus, which killed 61 people in Colorado last summer, may migrate to Oregon this summer. But then again -- it may not. Last year, Oregon and Washington had no confirmed cases of the West Nile Virus, according to the Deschutes County Health Department.

But Dan Peddycord, Health Services Director of the Deschutes County Health Department, told the Sisters City Council on Thursday, May 27, the city should be prepared for the worst.

The West Nile Virus is carried to humans and animals through certain species of mosquitoes, including the Curlex Tarsalis, which is common in Deschutes County, according to the health department. In Colorado last year, as many as 2,947 humans were found to have the virus. Six hundred twenty one of those people developed neuroinvasive disease, and 61 died from that disease, according to a report from the health department.

Peddycord told the council the health department will need funding to reduce the presence of the Curlex Tarsalis in Deschutes County and to conduct surveillance for traces of the virus.

So, Peddycord asked the council to sign a resolution supporting the creation of a countywide vector control district with taxing authority. He proposed a permanent tax of .054 per $1,000 of assessed value, which would generate about $594,000 per year. The district would be put before a vote of the people at the November 2004 election.

The Sisters City Council will not support a permanent district.

Peddycord said the City of Bend passed the resolution and that he will meet with Redmond next week, because he needs the cities' approval to obtain a permanent tax district. He said he might prefer a temporary tax levy to pay for the mosquito control, but wants to successfully undertake the "formalities" to make a permanent district an option.

"Frankly, if nothing materializes this summer with the virus, I'll have a hard time getting the county to put it on the November ballot," Peddycord said.

"The board of county commissioners are not thrilled with a fixed rate. A lot of people are not. I'm not sure I am, but we should keep it on the table for when we see in September if this thing is a big deal."

Peddycord told the council he believes there will be a few cases of the West Nile Virus reported in Oregon next summer, but he doesn't know how many. He said stream and creek areas in Black Butte Ranch and along Camp Polk Road have the highest populations of Curlex Tarsalis in the Sisters area.

"I wish I had a crystal ball," he said. "If this does not materialize, then I will not recommend proceeding with a funded vector control."

The city councilors, however, told Peddycord that they do not think the public or the county commissioners will support a permanent tax district for a problem which could be temporary and may never come to pass.

"When I first read this (about the permanent tax district), I thought 'Oh my God. Most of the people are not going to go for this,' said City Councilor Judy Trego.

But Peddycord told the council he hopes they will sign the resolution supporting the tax district so the public will understand it is an important issue.

"I don't want people next year to say they don't know what to do and we didn't do anything to prepare and people to say to the health department, you never did anything with everything going on in the nation about the virus," Peddycord said. "I don't want to be caught in that trap. I'd rather take preventative action now."

Still, the councilors did not see the logic in supporting a permanent district.

"I think knowing we have the option for a levy, it bothers me to put a permanent district on the ballot when we don't know what will happen," said Councilor Deb Kollodge.

After Peddycord left the meeting, the council indicated their decision to write a letter to the county commissioners expressing their support of vector control for the West Nile Virus, but declining to support a permanent tax district.

"Just word it with great support and then say we want a decently-lengthed levy -- five years or so," Mayor David Elliott said.