County Supervisors approved a new ordinance Tuesday that will give the County’s environmental health department the power to deal with eye-gnat pests wherever they pop up.
The Board of Supervisors had previously directed the environmental health department to find a way to help residents in Jacumba and Escondido. Numerous residents had complained for years that the tiny pests were being produced by two large organic farms located near each community and driving them to distraction, making it impossible to go outside or enjoy their properties.
Environmental Health Director Jack Miller told the Board Tuesday that the eye-gnat ordinance would give the County the authority to investigate complaints about eye-gnats; work with the land, business or homeowners to create voluntary plans to control the pests if investigation determined a problem existed; order mandatory changes if all voluntary measures failed; and administer fines if actions were not taken. The ordinance would also establish an eye-gnat abatement appeals board.
The organic farm in Jacumba, Bornt Farms, closed down this summer after running out of well water. The farm in Escondido, Be Wise Ranch, has been working with County environmental health officials on voluntary measures to control the eye-gnats produced there.
Supervisors said Tuesday that they were pleased that Be Wise Ranch was working with the County to address the problem and that progress had been made.
But the Board, which voted 4-0 to approve the ordinance, said it was still important for the County to approve an ordinance that would allow it to address eye-gnat issues if they were found elsewhere. Supervisor Bill Horn recused himself from the vote because he is also an organic farmer.
Board members also said that while they were strong backers of business and organic farming, they also had a responsibility to protect the public health and public well-being.
“I’ve experienced this,” Board Chairman Ron Roberts said about the eye-gnat problems in Escondido. “I’ve been out there. I’ve met with people in that area … and I would just tell you that I wouldn’t tolerate it for a minute if it were happening in my neighborhood. The priority here is going to be the public health and the nuisance factor in the neighborhood.”
Eye-gnats, tiny flies that are described as a “nuisance fly” by the California Department of Public Health, feed on mucous and fluids and are notorious for relentlessly swarming around the eyes and mouths of people and animals.
Eye-gnats are native to Southern California, but organic farms can produce large numbers of them because they sow dead plants back into the soil and do not use pesticides.
The ordinance would take effect 30 days after the Board approved it in a “second reading” Dec. 5.
