TANGIPAHOA MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT #1
MINUTES, REGULAR MEETING, JULY 08, 2026
The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, of the Tangipahoa Mosquito Abatement District #1, was held on Wednesday, July 08, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the District office, 15483 Club Deluxe Road, Hammond, LA.
Erin Horzelski, Chairwoman, called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll call was as follows:
Charlie Ciolino – present Craig Inman – absent
Greg Fletcher – present Amy Newsham - present
James Harper – absent May Stilley - present
Erin Horzelski - present
Also Present: Laura Gray, Douglas Curet, Jimmy Wolfe, Debbie Edwards, Colby Colona, and Cheri Vining.
Ms. Newsham made a motion to accept the May 13th meeting minutes. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion. Motion passed – all yeas, no nays; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent.
Auditor’s Report
Laura Gray with Laura Gray, CPA, LLC, presented the Independent Auditor’s Report for the year ending 2025 to the Board of Commissioners. The District received an A+. The audit contained no findings and State Agreed Upon Procedures had no exceptions.
Mr. Ciolino made a motion to accept the auditor’s report as presented. Ms. Stilley seconded the motion. Roll call vote as follows: Mr. Ciolino – yea, Mr. Fletcher – yea, Ms. Horzelski – yea, Ms. Newsham – yea, Ms. Stilley – yea; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent. Motion passed.
Laura Gray left the meeting.
Review Financial Statement
Ms. Colona reviewed the financial report through June 2026.
Mr. Fletcher made a motion to accept the financial statement into record as presented. Mr. Ciolino seconded the motion. Roll call vote as follows: Mr. Ciolino – yea, Mr. Fletcher – yea, Ms. Horzelski – yea, Ms. Newsham – yea, Ms. Stilley – yea; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent. Motion passed.
Director’s Report
Ms. Colona provided her report.
With all the rain we have had, the trap counts have been high. We have had 30 positive mosquito pool samples for West Nile Virus out of the 1,283 mosquito pool samples submitted to LSU for testing. We have conducted LAMP testing on 120 mosquito pool samples with 7 mosquito pool samples testing positive for West Nile Virus. So far, there are no human cases that have been reported in Tangipahoa parish.
Ms. Edwards left the meeting.
Six aerial applications have been completed so far this season, three of those occurring last week, with the last one covering the Ponchatoula Area Recreational District and Zemurray Park the night before the fireworks displays.
We have performed nine drone applications and will be continuing applications monthly.
On May 20th, we held a “meet and greet” for the Tangipahoa Parish Council which included a tour of the District and overview of our operations. Council Chairwoman Brigette Delatte Hyde attended.
Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center update: Ms. Colona has begun working to gather and prepare necessary documentation and contacted other mosquito control districts/science centers to collect information/cost regarding display construction to present to the Board. She will provide the Board with an update at our next meeting.
Our public information and outreach specialist is leaving at the end of this week. Ms. Colona is currently conducting interviews with hopes of having the position filled by the end of this month.
At the beginning of June, Kiana McKleroy was hired as an inspector, filling the position left open after the retirement of our senior inspector, Guy Savastano, at the end of May.
Adopt Policy and Procedure Changes
Ms. Colona reviewed her recommended changes/updates to the personnel manual.
Mr. Ciolino made a motion to accept the recommended changes/updates as presented. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion. Motion passed – all yeas, no nays, Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent.
2026 Ethics and Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Reminder
Currently we have not received either certificate for the following members: Ciolino, Fletcher, Inman, and Wolfe. Only need harassment certificate from Edwards.
Election of Officers:
Ms. Horzelski opened the floor for nominations.
Mr. Ciolino nominated Ms. Horzelski for Chairwoman of the Board. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion. Ms. Newsham moved to close the nominations, and Ms. Horzelski accepted the nomination by acclamation.
Ms. Horzelski opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair.
Ms. Horzelski nominated Mr. Ciolino for Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion. Ms. Newsham moved to close the nominations, and Mr. Ciolino accepted the nomination by acclamation.
Ms. Horzelski opened the floor for nominations for Secretary.
Mr. Fletcher nominated Mr. Inman to Secretary of the Board. Ms. Stilley seconded the motion. Ms. Newsham moved to close the nominations, and Mr. Inman was accepted by acclamation.
Ms. Newsham made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Ciolino seconded the motion. Motion passed – all yeas, no nays; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent.
ATTEST:
/s/Erin Horzelski, Chairwoman
/s/Craig Inman, Secretary
/s/Cheri Vining, Recording Secretary
Tangipahoa Mosquito Abatement District #1
Cost of notice: - $94.40