A resolution to remove three commissioners of the Saint Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District drew a sustained, large public turnout at the Dec. 4 council meeting and intense council debate about public health, oversight and litigation. After testimony from vector‑control professionals and residents, the council voted to withdraw the resolution, leaving the board in place while legal and oversight questions remain.

Multiple public‑health and entomology professionals, including speakers who identified themselves as working in municipal mosquito control and vector research, urged the council not to dismantle or defund the district during a season with elevated West Nile virus activity. "This is a public‑health issue," said Dr. Carrie Catone, who identified herself as assistant director of a municipal mosquito control program; several other speakers described the district’s technical capacity and urged the council to vote on substantive governance changes rather than rush to remove board members.

Council members debated a motion to postpone consideration of the removal resolution and then, after votes, a separate motion to remove the resolution from the floor. Legal counsel and some council members reiterated that dedicated district funds cannot be redirected by the council under Louisiana law, and several members flagged that the district has initiated litigation against the parish — a point council members said needed careful handling.

A motion to postpone the resolution failed. Later, a motion to remove (withdraw) the resolution itself passed unanimously, effectively leaving the Mosquito Abatement District commissioners in place. Council members said they will pursue legislative and procedural options — including exploring statutory changes and convening a working group — to address governance and oversight concerns raised during the proceedings.

The episode included repeated requests by speakers that the council resolve the matter that night because of public‑health stakes; the council’s final action removed the immediate removal resolution but left open follow‑up work and a pending lawsuit listed on the off‑the‑floor agenda.