RANDY BRUNSON’S SON-IN-LAW “DUKE MARA” AND ED GEORGE ARE WANCHICK’S PAWNS IN THIS CONSPIRACY.
FLORIDA HISTORY OF MOSQUITO CONTROL
MICHAEL WANCHICK
The Florida Mosquito Control Law was signed by Governor Martin into law in 1921. Florida mothers, women and educators statewide, fought diligently to advocate for this law due to the disease, Yellow Fever, found to be spread by mosquitos. There were so many children kept from attending school due to the serious effects of the yellow fever virus, the Florida State Legislature acted very promptly for health reasons.
In the City of Stark, Florida, 65% of the residents were found to have the yellow fever virus.
The U.S. Navy port in Green Cove Springs could not work the employees, most of the time, because the presence of the mosquitos made their jobs very dangerous due to having to fight off the swarms of mosquitos, or as they referred to them as “The Skeeters.”
The first Independent Mosquito Control District was started in Indian River in 1925. The reason for this first district started was because of complaints by U. S. Government Space Station that they would move out of Florida in the event the mosquitoes were not controlled.
Over the years, more Districts were formed. There are now 15 independent districts in operation as some have been taken over by County Governments, mostly because of Charters. An example being Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach.
My question: “Is this what you want for St. Johns County?”
Don’t forget, in 2011, 2012 and 2014, West Nile Virus broke out in Duval County. Duval is one of the largest counties in the United States.
In 2011 the Duval County Board of Commissioners reduced the Mosquito budget by 13%, including their staff and equipment. The result in 2011 being 22 cases of West Nile Virus which resulted in 3 deaths.
The Duval County group now falls under the Duval Road and Bridge Department and they state that they do not have the manpower, time or funds to respond to service request for swarming mosquitoes. The Duval unit only has four trucks to spray.
There are 67 Florida Counties and approximately 59 mosquito agencies including the 15 Independent Mosquito Control Districts. All 15 Independent Mosquito Control Districts are located on the Florida coast. Get the point? Most of Municipal controlled Mosquito Operations have an appointed Board or a separate Board, such as Volusia County. Others are run by the Board of County Commissioners as in Jacksonville.
Many of the small agencies lease mosquito control or contract with outside vendors, as in Palatka, who generally operates with 1 truck and one person to run it.
The budgets run by Board of County Commissioners are dependent on the economy of the County and the feelings of the current elected officials. Many times the funds are raided to cover other expenses.
Many of the Board of County Commissioners have very little no education, experience, understanding and knowledge of the research and development or the control of mosquitoes.
The Anastasia Mosquito Control District was established and was voter approved by referendum on December 7, 1948, and ordered by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County at a meeting of the Board held December 13, 1948.
In 2002, voters chose AMCD as the mosquito control operation for the entire 822 square miles of St. Johns County, which also includes the wetlands.
In 2010, Michael Wanchick, County Administrator, Gerry Cameron, Assistant County Administrator and the Board of County Commissioners attempted to take over AMCD by filing a local bill. That bill, needed to be voted on and passed by the Florida State Legislature. The bill failed, as local bills are not sent to committees if there is any controversy.
In the presentation to the legislature, AMCD presented 11 speakers who discuss the need to keep AMCD an Independent Mosquito Control District. The County had the BOCC Staff and Board of County Commissioners members speak, none of whom have any knowledge or experience with mosquitoes or their control.
Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners only want to get their hands on the reserve and contingency funds held by AMCD.
It was about money and our assets.
Senator Thrasher told Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners to “contact AMCD and work out the differences.” Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners never contacted AMCD.
AMCD has a great working relationship with Hastings, Flagler Estates, St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra and the City of St. Augustine.
AMCD has offered “The Olive Branch” to Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners several times. There has never been a response.
AMCD has never been under the supervision of the St. Johns County Government. Not even in 2010 as so recently stated by Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners Chairman Jay Morris and Commissioner Ron Sanchez.
MORE LIES
‘News from St. Johns County’, October 23, 2014,
From: “Jay Morris- St. Johns County Commission”
“Most mosquito control operations in Florida are managed by their respective County, however, the state of Florida transferred oversight responsibility for independent special districts, such as the Anastasia Mosquito Control District, from the County to the State level in 2010. As a result, St. Johns County no longer has oversight authority related to the Anastasia Mosquito Control District.”
This Editor, in June 2014, requested Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners to educate and provide training for all county employees concerning the outbreak of Chikungunya, a mosquito born disease invading Florida.
Results: NO ACTION BY WANCHICK AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY COMMISSION HAS NO INTEREST IN COUNTY HEALTH
The county requires a County Commissioner to attend AMCD meetings. However, since 2003 there is no evidence or records that show current commissioners attending even one AMCD meeting.
There is one exception. Tom Manuel, you remember, arrested by FBI and convicted, did attend one meeting. Manual had to be call out of order twice. It was reported Manual acted like a clown and only attended to disrupt the AMCD meeting. Manual’s friend and associate Ken Bryan also attended the AMCD meeting.
AMCD raised the millage for one year, so the District will have a large reserve with which to build the new AMCD Operations, Research and Development Facility.
Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners are licking their lips and drooling over getting their hands on the reserve and contingency.
Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners are back into AMCD’s business.
Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners are now working the current General Election as mentors to candidates, Randy Brunson’s son-in-law, “Duke” Mara and the so-called expert mosquito man Ed George from the Anastasia Island.
Wanchick and the Board of County Commissioners think that if they can remove two current AMCD Commissioners from office they have a clear road to take over AMCD and use the reserves to get themselves out of debt or to have a bigger reserve for the county.
This will allow them to borrow more money under the St. Johns County name in put the county deeper in debt.
AMCD is all about Public Health and Safety for the St. Johns County residents, tourists and farm animals,
Mosquito Control is not a Road and Bridge project.
In 2010 at a Town Hall Meeting in Northwest St. Johns County, Commissioner Cindy Stevenson told AMCD Commissioner Jeanne Moeller she wanted AMCD to share, with St. Johns County, the rest of the property at the intersection of Route 16 and Interstate 95, so the County, could build a joint Road and Bridge Complex.
Cindy Stevenson never followed up with Commissioner Moeller.
Commissioner Moeller states that for weeks prior to the Budget Town Hall Meeting the County Administrator, Michael Wanchick, was implying that AMCD needed to be taken over.
Commissioner Moeller states: “When the Budget Town Hall Meeting began and it was evident Ms. Moeller was in attendance, Mr. Wanchick did not mention AMCD at all.”
SAVE YOUR CHILDREN, FAMILY, ANIMALS AND OUR TOURISTS…
VOTE – JEANNE MOELLER AND CATHERINE BRANDHORST – MOSQUITO CONTROL