Spring hasn’t yet sprung, but Vicksburg officials are readying for warmer weather by buying a year’s supply of mosquito spray for about $140,000.

Aldermen Michael Mayfield and Sid Beauman voted Monday to purchase the chemical to ward off the insects, part of city efforts that intensified when mosquitos were identified as spreading the sometimes fatal West Nile virus in 2002.

The city’s mosquito control program is headed by administrative assistant Tammy Jackson of the street department. Once temperatures rise above 60 degrees in the evenings, the spray truck will go out nightly to mist the air with the chemical, Jackson said.

Purchasing director Tim Smith said chemicals in the past have been purchased in multiple orders. He said buying in bulk is a move he believes will save money.

“In the past, we’d buy half at the beginning of the season and then get the other half later,” he said. “It saves money by getting it for the whole season now. It’s a smart, economic move for the taxpayers.”

Jackson said some chemicals were left over from last year’s mosquito season, which usually runs through November, depending on the weather.

“We usually stop when we get the first cold snap,” she said.

The city will pay $136,950 to Adapco Inc., a company with which the city contracted a year ago, for the chemicals, which will provide enough protection throughout the spring and summer seasons, Smith told board members. Mayor Laurence Leyens was not at the meeting.

The two chemicals, Scourge and Permanone, are designed to kill adult mosquitoes. The chemicals are released from a truck that travels around the city limits.

West Nile also prompted Warren County to begin its first-ever spraying program. Supervisors have budgeted $65,000 this year for mosquito control.

One out of every 150 to 200 people exposed to West Nile will become ill. Up to one of 10 people who contract the illness will not recover, according to a report issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health. Symptoms are similar to other viral infections.

In 2007, at least two cases of the West Nile virus were confirmed in Warren County. In Mississippi, 129 cases were confirmed, down from 184 reports of the disease in the state in 2006, according to statistics from MSDH.

Spring officially arrives Thursday and already warm temperatures have made their way to the River City. Even though Monday brought highs in the 80s, temps are expected to cool as the week progresses, according to the National Weather Service. Highs are forecast to be between 60 and 70 degrees during the day for most of the week and lows could dip to the 40s at night.

On the AgendaIn a Monday meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the board:

Proclaimed March 16-22 National Safe Place Week.

Recognized Jim and Judy Donnelly as Seniors of the Month at the Vicksburg Senior Center.

Rejected a bid from Crossroads Ford Inc., for not including a 5 percent security fee and accepted a bid from Havis Shields of Warminster, Pa., in the amount of $42,471.50 for a prisoner transport van.

Authorized the city clerk to publish the final settlement of the Phase III Sewer Improvements Project.

Heard an update from Bubba Rainer, director of public works, about the emergency declaration for the Drummond Street drain repair and approved payment of $30,050.

Tabled a request for advertisement from Bennie Peoples for Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Game at Mississippi College.

Approved a request for $100 advertisement for Porters Chapel Academy for its Fifth Annual Bubba Mims Memorial Golf Tournament.

Approved a request for use of River Stage Plaza and the adjacent parking lot for an April 7 event to promote Warren County Relay for Life, which will be April 25 at Warren Central High School. The board also approved a request to use a blow-up movie screen pending a decision about whether the screen is owned by the city or the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Approved a $122,000 donation to the NRoute Transit Commission and a $75,000 donation to the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce.

Authorized South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, who was acting as mayor pro tem, to sign a lease with Unitech for a copier at the street department.

In an executive session, the board discussed a new hire in the gas department, a pay adjustment in the police department and two resignations in the gas department.