It’s been several months since Athens residents have heard the hiss of the city’s mosquito trucks, but the program will start again next month.

Brad Gee, vector manager for the city of Athens, told the City Council Monday the city’s vector program would begin May 13–15. A map of the schedule will be posted to the city’s website, athensal.us.

Gee said the public works department tries to run the same route each day so residents can plan their schedules around it. He added 6–10 p.m. is the normal run time for the trucks.

Gee explained the trucks can’t spray on rainy days or if wind speeds are above 10 mph. He said if there’s a prolonged dry spell during summer months, the department may skip a week.

Elsewhere Monday, the council agreed to provide $11,500 to Athens Main Street for parking and way-finding signs to help guide downtown visitors to public parking lots. Public Works Director James Rich said it could take up to 10 weeks for the poles to come in. He added the signs themselves would be made in-house.

“Hopefully, we’ll have them up before Labor Day,” he said.

Other business

In other business, the council:

• Approved selling 2 acres at the Breeding Industrial Park to Turner LLC at a cost of $34,197;

• Authorized Mayor Ronnie Marks to enter into an agreement with KREBS Engineering to provide plans to improve 12-inch and 18-inch sewers between Cornish Drive and Pryor Street through the former Pilgrim’s Pride property;

• Approved amending the city’s zoning ordinance;

• Abandoned a 20-foot utility and drainage easement north of Eastside Junction (Publix shopping center);

• Authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for right of way maintenance regarding the Pryor Street sidewalk project. Rich said ALDOT is reviewing the plans, and the sidewalk project could be bid by this summer; and

• Approved purchasing a pickup truck for the building inspection department and one for the public works department for a combined cost of $56,500. Funds will come from the city’s 2018 surplus and from a landfill account.