Board nixes chopper
PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 09/28/07
The Anastasia Mosquito Control District's board of directors on Thursday approved a motion to cancel their contract for a $1.8 million Bell helicopter. This move ended a long-standing and contentious issue that had often split the board. Chairwoman Barbara Bosanko said later, "The research convinced me to change my mind. I just couldn't see paying that much when there are other options available." Research by St. Johns County resident Don Girvan first discovered a line item in the contract that showed the district was paying $28,000 for the helicopter's paint job, which actually comes at no extra charge. The board then learned from its attorney, Doug Wycoff, that it may cancel the contract any time without penalty. Bosanko said board member Jeanne Moeller made the motion to cancel, which passed unanimously. She said the board formed a committee to look into other, less expensive options. Members of that committee include Bosanko, Girvan, Wycoff, Col. Ronnie Radford, one AMCD employee to be named later and one employee of a mosquito control district which has an aerial spraying program. In other action, Bosanko said that she will be speaking today with Assistant County Administrator Jerry Cameron about selling seven of the 25 acres that the district purchased for its new headquarters near Interstate 95 and County Road 208. "They want the property to build their Emergency Operations Center," Bosanko said. "Right now, I'm collecting information and will pass it on to the board next month." The district paid $50,000 an acre early last year, but adjacent property has been sold to a box company for $80,000 an acre, she said.
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