When Pleasant View City Councilman Toby Mileski was elected two years ago, he inquired about the Weber County Mosquito Abatement District of which Pleasant View and surrounding cities belong. Pleasant View Mayor Doug Clifford noticed his interest and appointed him to represent Pleasant View on the Mosquito Abatement Board of Trustees.
Mileski began digging into the workings of the Weber County Mosquito control district with a desire (as he has stated) to run things efficiently and save the tax payers money. Mileski says that couldn’t happen until there was a change in personnel because some of the Board members would not consider any changes. Two of the unelected board members had been in their positions for over 20 years. Of 16 Board members, 4 were un-elected officials. Five have been replaced in the last two years—including all but one of the non-elected members. Mileski believed that elected officials should represent the people, and that expenses the taxpayers bore was extravagant.
Mileski says that the director was being paid $116,000 per year. So, changes began. Three of four un-elected Board members were replaced by the cities, and the director’s pay was cut to $75,000. So, the director left and was replaced.
Mileski says there are still a number of changes that need to be made to benefit the tax payers. He believes that the budget can be cut. He says that he proposed a budget cut this year, but without a second to consider his motion. He says that there is a full-time pilot on staff even though the District’s plane only flies to spray mosquitoes during the summer months. He says a recent audit showed that the County mosquito program consistently brings in more than it spends, has a plush reserve fund of $1 million, and that the full-time employees have a very good benefits package. Also, there is a $70,000 overtime/comp. time pool. Mileski says he will propose replacing some permanent employees with seasonal employees (like the industry is doing where possible), and/or other cost-sharing measures. He says these proposals are not making him popular with the current employees, but he says he is doing this for the people.
Mileski says that if residents of other cities or the County want to find out more, he suggests they contact the mayor or County commissioner to find out who their representative is.
Note: This is news that the Sentinel has deemed important for awhile and want to make it clear as does Councilman Mileski that it has nothing to do with the current municipal election in which he and Mayor Clifford are involved.
