Mission Statement

The Ouachita Parish Mosquito Abatement District No. 1 will enhance the public health by reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases and when deemed necessary by the board, other arthropod-borne diseases. The district will actively seek out novel methods to control mosquitoes and will cooperate with other agencies to expand the services that the district can provide. The district will reach out to the public by all means possible to provide public service information.

Organizational Chart

Our History

The ability of a parish to create mosquito abatement districts is set forth in the State Enabling Act Title 33 Chapter 23 – Mosquito Abatement Districts. The Ouachita Mosquito Abatement District was created by the Police Jury in 1978 and the voters passed a tax to support the program for funding in 1980. The first Director of the District was Johnny Bilidaux who served for a short period before being replaced by Paul Scheppf. Paul Scheppf was director from 1979 through 1987. Robert A. Lowe became the director in 1987. The mosquito control operations were run out of an old auto repair facility for the first year and then a warehouse located near the airport. The district saw considerable expansion from 1982 to 1996 with new buildings erected to house spray vehicles, provide a secure area for handling insecticides and storing insecticides.

During 1995 the parish program was abandoned in favor of a contract with Mosquito Control Incorporated. In 1998, the citizens of Ouachita parish voted for a 10 year 1.19 mills property tax for the “purpose of the abatement, control, eradication and study of mosquitoes and other arthropods of public health importance: and all activities incidental thereto.” This tax generates approximately 725K per year. Dissatisfaction with MCI surfaced in 2001 when the parish suffered its worst outbreak of St. Louis Encephalitis. The parish subsequently cancelled the contract with MCI and reopened its own program. Mr. Patrick Sutton was appointed as director February 2002 and worked in that capacity until 1 April 2003. Ms. Jeanine Tessmer served as the interim director until 15 August when Dr. Cole Church was appointed as director.