Apparently an urban legend is making the rounds in Canyon County, claiming that Listerine is a good product for killing mosquitoes.

Alas, the antiseptic mouthwash has a high alcohol content that makes it effective for killing many things, including landscape plants and flowers, the county Mosquito Abatement District noted in a news release Monday.

Abatement folks recommend the mosquito-averse (and aren't we all?) use other products – products that are registered for mosquito control.

And they offer this encouraging note: So far this season the district’s mosquito traps have not turned up any insects that test positive for West Nile Virus.

Maybe this is a new way for ACHD, Ada County, Boise, Meridian, etc. to save money ... let the developers come up with the long-range road and development plans. It would save taxpayers a bundle.

Developer drafting road plan for eastern Warm Springs Avenue: Brighton Corp. is drafting a 20-year plan for improvements to Warm Springs Avenue between Eckert and Highland Valley roads.

The public can review the proposed plan at an open house 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Riverstone International School, 5493 Warm Springs Avenue.

Brighton will present its proposed corridor plan to Ada County Highway District and Boise city this spring.

Ada County is taking a different approach to crafting next year’s budget.

In prior years the county commissioners would allocate each county department a set percentage increase.
Under the new model, the board will ask for the public’s help in prioritizing county services and then fund the services accordingly.

To accomplish this the county is conducting online survey through May 19 asking county residents to determine how much money they think should be allocated to specific programs and services.

“This new process will help us develop a new county budget that accurately reflects the values of Ada County residents,” Commissioner Rick Yzaguirre said. “The input we receive from this survey, and from public testimony given at our budget hearings, will help us better manage county resources.”

Governments wonks, here is the slate of meetings next week from my beat:

Monday, April 21
1:30 p.m. COMPASS board meeting, Caldwell Police Dept., 110 S. 5th, Caldwell. Full agenda.

Tuesday, April 22
11 a.m. Ada County Open Space Task Force presentation to Ada County Commissioners, Ada County Courthouse main floor hearing room, 200 W. Front St., Boise.

Wednesday, April 23
2:30 p.m. Growth Alliance (Ada County, ACHD, Boise, Eagle, Garden City, Kuna, Meridian, Star) at ACHD, 3775 Adams St., Garden City.

The annual meeting of the Friends of the Nampa Library is set for 7 p.m. downstairs at the library, 101 11th Ave. S.
Interested community members are invited to attend, find out about the group, join and vote on officers for the coming year.
The group raises funds for the library through ongoing sales of donated books and hosts a popular annual book sale, which is slated for Aug. 20-25 this year. For more information call 468-5800.

The Idaho Conservation League has rallied more than 20 cities, counties, businesses and organizations statewide to sign a letter to the Idaho Transportation Department Board in support of the Transportation Enhancement Program, an ITD program that provides money for bikeways and pedestrian pathways.

Idaho Conservation League press release:

Cities, counties, businesses and organizations urge Idaho
Transportation Department to prioritize trails program

The City of Meridian and the Meridian Development Corporation will host a public information meeting to discuss the future extension and alignment of E. 3rd Street in downtown Meridian.

The open-house style meeting takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 in the main floor conference room of the Meridian Police Department, 1401 E. Watertower Ave.

The alignment identified will extend north to Fairview Avenue, creating an additional north-south route through downtown Meridian. This new connection will provide much needed relief to other north-south roadways in the area while increasing connectivity downtown.

Public hearings on two planned community applications are coming up:

Vista planned community: 3,113 homes on 1,048 acres one mile south of Kuna-Mora Road west of S. Cole Road.
Developer: Manhard Bellatrix.
Public hearing: Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission, 6 p.m. April 17, main hearing room, Ada County Courthouse, 200 W. Front St.

Dry Creek planned community: 4,300 homes on 1,414 acres east of Idaho 55 along Brookside Lane and Dry Creek Road.
Developer: JMM DRY Creek LLC
Public hearing: Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission, 6 p.m. May 22, main hearing room, Ada County Courthouse, 200 W. Front St.

If you’re an Ada County resident with a net income of $28,000 or less and meet certain other requirements, you might be eligible for property tax assistance through Idaho’s Circuit Breaker program.
Applications for the program, in which the state pays part of residents’ property tax bill, are due April 15.
To learn more and receive an application, contact the Ada County Assessor’s office at 287-7200. Applications are also available in the Assessor’s office on the second floor of the Ada County Courthouse at 200 W. Front St. or at the Idaho State Tax Commission.

April 15 isn’t just tax-deadline day. It’s the last day for graduating Caldwell and Vallivue seniors to apply for the Mayor’s Community Service Award.
The program honors one student from each high school for outstanding service to the community. The scholarship, for students enrolled in post-high school studies, is $1,300 for Caldwell High and $1,000 for Vallivue. If the recipient is going to attend the College of Idaho, he or she will receive an additional $1,000 from the college.
You can get a scholarship application online or by calling Susan Miller in the mayor’s office, 455-3011. Print the application and mail or return to Caldwell City Hall, 411 Blaine St. Applications must be postmarked by April 15.