The City of Mount Carmel is still looking for someone to operate the city’s mosquito spraying program this summer.
During this month’s “Ask the Mayor” program on WSJD, Mayor Joe Judge said the city has received applicants, but the main issue continues to be finding someone with the proper applicator’s license.
Judge says the city is willing to pay for the required training and licensing, but applicants must complete the process and pass the test before they can officially be hired.
At the moment, Judge says two individuals are currently working through the training and testing process. He added that recent weather conditions have helped keep mosquito activity from becoming too severe so far.
The possibility of having current city employees handle spraying duties has also been discussed. However, Judge noted that because city workers are union employees, the work would likely require overtime pay at time-and-a-half rates, and no employees have stepped forward expressing interest in the position.
At last week’s Mount Carmel City Council meeting, Commissioner Tom Meeks asked about the pay for the position. Judge responded that the wage would be negotiable based on experience, but would likely be around 20 dollars per hour.