Questions that were raised at the September 2000 Civic association Meeting!

1. The sign for Vernon Heights Park (Central Avenue) is missing. Find out if the Park Authority took it down and when it will be replaced.
The sign is at Area III for repair and will be put back up within a week.

2. Mount Vernon Post Office is currently in a trailer. Where will new location for the Post Office be?
According to Tom Lillis (Director of Construction, 703-799-8665), The current location/building is temporary with no dates as far as permanence. The Park Service and the Postal Service are in negotiations as to placement of a permanent building.

3. Grist Mill Woods -- the new subdivision on Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy. -- At this site, an old house was left standing. The question is why? what will be done with it? Does anyone live there?

Upon inspection today, 9/29, it was reported that the house has been demolished.

4. Water does not drain from the dry pond on Central.
Rose Lambert called Bill Grieve, Site Inspector. The pond is a WET pond. The site plan has shown this right along. Originally, it was shown as a dry pond during the PLANNING phase. When the plan went to Site Review, staff required a WET pond.

The Health Department has been contacted about increased mosquito populations in this area. There response was quick and they located a problem which is addressed below.

From Gary Haines'
I inspected a wet pond just off Central Av that is enclosed by a chain link fence. The pond is approximately 1/2 acre surface area and is deep. I found no mosquito larva using a sampling dipper [this is a standard method of determining if mosquito larva are present]. This is actually not surprising as most ponds contain abundant natural predators that feed on mosquitos at the larval life stage.

This pond was found to contain large numbers of predatory insects as well as frogs and tadpoles. I did locate a low spot in the rear of the Parkside Town House project that contained numerous mosquito larva. This area had a pool about one square foot and another about two square feet. I treated these with an insect growth regulator [Altosid] that will be effective for the remainder of the breeding season. I also informed Bill Grieve, Site Inspector of the location so he can make sure a permanent solution is taken. Please visit our Web Site at www.co.fairfax.va.us/service/hd/hdweb.htm for
more information on mosquitos.

The ideal mosquito breeding location is artifical containers like bird baths, boat covers, tires, clogged gutters or any other small container.

Gary Haines R.E.H.S Environmental Health Specialist

Colonial Avenue Repaving

Rose Lambert received the letter sent by VDOT on Colonial Avenue. It's several pages long and includes the permit. I don't know if it is clear enough for website but if anyone is interested a copy will be brought to the next meeting.