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At a time when the mosquito-borne West Nile virus is still a potential killer, health officials are worried that a reorganization plan by the Morris County Freeholders will cut mosquito control efforts.

The freeholders plan to eliminate the all-volunteer Morris County Mosquito Extermination Commission, and fold the paid mosquito control staff that the commission oversees into the countys Department of Planning and Public Works.

The proposed reorganization is expected to go into effect after the freeholders January reorganization.

The plan comes not long after a 92-year-old Morris County resident died Aug. 31 after contracting West Nile.

This past summers first detection of infected mosquitoes in Morris County was on Aug. 1 at Donatoni Community Park on West Main Street in Rockaway. A week later, the park and surrounding woods, path and access road were treated by the mosquito commission.

As of Sept. 27, mosquitoes carrying West Nile have been found in 44 pools in Morris County, according to the N.J. Department of Health.

Morris County Freeholder David Scapicchio, former mayor of Mount Olive Township, maintained the reorganization wont affect mosquito control programs, but it will save money.

Nothing is changing other than were folding the office responsibilities into Public Works, Scapicchio said.

Scapicchio said that as part of the savings, the county will have to complete just one audit for both the mosquito control commission and the public works department.

Other potential savings are expected through centralized purchasing, vehicle inspection and licensing.

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Health officials worry county freeholders could bite into mosquito control program