Mosquito and rodent control district director issues apology to Holden

Matthew Yates, director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control District, issued a public apology to Mayor Kip Holden today for “an inappropriate and erroneous statement” made by a district employee to an Iberville Parish employee earlier this year. The statement stemmed from a request from Iberville Parish for help controlling a mosquito outbreak following Mississippi River flooding this spring. The district employee reportedly responded by saying there would be no help offered because Iberville Parish President Mitchell Ourso did not support the controversial highway loop project, in contrast to Holden, and that, as a result, Holden would not sign off on the mosquito spray request. Holden denied that allegation when it surfaced Tuesday, saying he’d never made any such comment and did not know who the district employee was. The mayor further responded with his own statement this afternoon, which reads in part: “Erroneous comments like the one made do serious harm to our parish and to our relationships with other parishes in the state who we work closely with on regional issues. It is unfortunate that I am only now learning that Iberville Parish employees were told something erroneous earlier this year by an East Baton Rouge Parish employee. While the Mosquito Abatement Office does not fall under the Mayor’s Office, I will also reach out to (Iberville Parish President) Mitchell (Ourso) and assure him and the people of Iberville Parish of my personal commitment and cooperation.” Neither statement addressed whether the district employee has been punished for his comment.