For the most part, the city has done a fine job this summer of fighting mosquitoes.

We recall last summer, when rains hampered the mosquito-spraying dates and left the city rather buggy. This summer, the pesky skeeters are not anywhere nearly as bad as last summer.

There is nothing the city can do to eradicate all mosquitoes. No matter how much spraying is done, there will be some mosquitoes. And there will always be some places in Albert Lea that, in general, are more buggy than others and less buggy than others.

But try hanging out in the backyard of a friend who lives in one of the small towns in Freeborn County that doesn’t spray for mosquitoes. The difference becomes clear. It is a lot nicer to be in the backyard of an Albert Lea home than many other places.

Give the city the credit it deserves. The mosquitoes are way down this summer.