TANGIPAHOA MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT #1
MINUTES, REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, of the Tangipahoa Mosquito Abatement
District #1, was held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 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: Douglas Curet, Debbie Edwards, Jimmy Wolfe, Colby Colona, and Cheri Vining.
Ms. Newsham made a motion to accept the July 30th meeting minutes. Mr. Ciolino seconded the
motion. Motion passed – all yeas, no nays; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent.
Director’s Report
Ms. Colona provided her report.
To date, there have been 186 West Nile positive mosquito pools out of 1,575 mosquito pool
submissions. Out of 224 mosquito pool samples tested in our lab, 11 were positive for West Nile.
There have been four human cases in Tangipahoa Parish – three from within the District and
one outside of the District. Last week we saw a decrease in positive samples. The activity has
been much more pronounced in the west/northwestern portion of the District. Overall, mosquito
trap counts have been low.
The minor repairs to the airplane spray system are almost finished.
We are still utilizing the drone as we find areas to treat. We have made applications to several
local high schools in preparation for their football season.
Other happenings: we participated in SLU STEM Fest Day in August and Leadership
Tangipahoa will be visiting the District next week. Our quarterly safety meeting will be coming
up in two weeks and we will be preparing for the Hammond Airshow in October.
Review Financial Statement
Ms. Colona reviewed the financial report through August 2025.
Ms. Stilley made a motion to approve the financial statement as presented. Mr. Fletcher
seconded the motion. Roll call vote as follows: Mr. Ciolino – yea, Mr. Fletcher – yea, Ms.
Horzelski – yea, Ms. Newsham – yea, and Ms. Stilley – yea; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent.
Motion passed.
Review and Approval by the Board of the Amended Lease Agreement with the City of
Hammond/Hammond Advisory Board for the Airport Lease and Authorize the Director to
Execute the Lease Agreement Once Approved by the Louisiana State Bond Commission
Douglas Curet, legal counsel, reviewed the amended lease agreement with the Board. After
discussion, Mr. Fletcher made a motion to approve the amended lease agreement and authorized
the Director to execute the lease agreement once approved by the Louisiana State Bond
Commission. Mr. Ciolino seconded the motion. Roll call vote as follows: Mr. Ciolino – yea, Mr.
Fletcher – yea, Ms. Horzelski – yea, Ms. Newsham – yea, and Ms. Stilley – yea; Mr. Harper and
Mr. Inman absent. Motion passed.
Authorize the Director and Legal Counsel to submit the lease and amended lease to the
Louisiana Bond Commission for Approval
Ms. Newsham made a motion to authorize the Director and Legal Counsel to submit the lease
and the amended lease to the Louisiana Bond Commission for approval. Mr. Fletcher seconded
the motion. Roll call vote as follows: Mr. Ciolino – yea, Mr. Fletcher – yea, Ms. Horzelski – yea,
Ms. Newsham – yea, and Ms. Stilley – yea; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent. Motion passed.
Adopt changes to Personnel Manual
Ms. Colona reviewed her recommended changes along with the Boards recommended changes to
the personnel manual. Ms. Newsham made a motion to adopt the changes as presented. Mr.
Fletcher seconded the motion. Roll call vote as follows: Mr. Ciolino – yea, Mr. Fletcher – yea,
Ms. Horzelski – yea, Ms. Newsham – yea, and Ms. Stilley – yea; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman
absent. Motion passed.
Approve Employee Promotion for Inspector II Position
Ms. Colona made a recommendation, that having met all the qualifications, Cody Navarro be
promoted from Inspector to Inspector II effective for pay period beginning 9/14/2025. Ms.
Newsham made a motion to approve the promotion. Mr. Ciolino seconded the motion. Roll call
vote as follows: Mr. Ciolino – yea, Mr. Fletcher – yea, Ms. Horzelski – yea, Ms. Newsham – yea,
and Ms. Stilley – yea; Mr. Harper and Mr. Inman absent. Motion passed.
Presentation and Discussion of 2026 Draft Budget
Ms. Colona presented the draft budget for review and discussion. Commissioners will continue
to review and contact Ms. Colona with any questions. At the November meeting, the proposed
budget for 2026 will be presented for the Board’s approval.
Approve Advisory Council Appointment
After our last meeting, Jimmy Wolfe expressed his desire to become a member of our advisory
council. Ms. Stilley made a motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Wolfe to the advisory
council. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion. Motion passed – all yeas, no nays; Mr. Harper and
Mr. Inman absent.
2025 Ethics and Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Reminder
This training is to be completed annually by all board members, legal counsel, and advisory
council members, with certificates of completion submitted to the District office. Currently we
have not received certificates for the following members: Ciolino (both), Fletcher (both),
Horzelski (ethics), Newsham (harassment), Edwards (harassment), and Wolfe (both).
Mr. Fletcher 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