By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — A local business owner raised concerns over an alleged influx of rats coming from the Peddie Lake area during a council meeting on Monday night.
"We are taking the situation seriously and we are aware of the situation," said Mayor Steven Kirson on Wednesday. "The Board of Health will be vigilant."
Fran Palumbo, owner of Tavern on the Lake on Main Street, said she has made "numerous calls" to the Police Director James LeTellier and to a member of council regarding an ongoing issue with mice and rats in the downtown area.
"I would like to know what is going to be done," said Ms. Palumbo. "There happens to be a rash of four-legged mice and rats at Peddie Lake. I’ve asked the police director if he could have an exterminator as has been done in the past, bait the lake so the rats aren’t walking around."
She said that was done earlier, but the bait traps have since been removed.
The borough’s Board of Health Public Officer Jill Swanson said that it is "conducting ongoing surveillance for rodent activity in the Main Street area."
"Health Department personnel and the borough’s professional pest control operator have inspected the public property in the area of the lake and have not found evidence to support the use of pesticides at this time," said Ms. Swanson in an email on Wednesday. "We will continue to monitor the conditions in this area and make recommendations for appropriate action if conditions change."
As part of an initial evaluation by her office, one rodent burrow was identified on private property and the responsible party had been notified of the requirements to abate the situation, she said.
"Our inspectors are canvassing the area to look for evidence of rodent activity, such as burrows, rub marks, droppings and gnawing marks," she said. "The inspections also focus on identifying conditions which create an attractive environment for rodent harborage and providing education to the property owners on how to prevent rodent problems."
She said that some of conditions that are being addressed as a result of these visits including the "clearing of clutter and vegetation found in close proximity to buildings which could serve as harborage and securing of trash receptacles that may provide a food source."
Mayor Kirson questioned Ms. Palumbo on how often she sees the rats.
"Is it all the time that you are seeing them?," he said.
Ms. Palumbo responded "yes."
Business Administrator Henry Underhill said, in an email this week, that the evidence of rats has not been found around the lake.
" The report of rats downtown has yet to be verified. The borough began its inspections weeks ago and as yet has not found evidence of rats," he said in the email Wednesday. "We employed the services of an exterminator as well as our staff. The area of the lake is reviewed repeatedly, and litter cans are checked for evidence of rat activity."
He said the fact is that there is no rat problem in downtown Hightstown.
During the council meeting, Councilman Rob Thibault asked who took the bait traps away and was told by members of the public that it was the Board of Health.
"We will take a look at that," Mayor Kirson said. "We will have a discussion (Tuesday) and find out what’s going on."
On Wednesday, Mayor Kirson told the Windsor-Hights Herald that he was down at the lake and walking the area looking for evidence but did not find any and was going back out that evening.
"I am taking my own time to go down to see if there is any trace of activity," he said.
Mayor Kirson said that the borough’s professional pest control was down at the lake about a week or two ago to investigate the problem.
"He couldn’t jeopardize the health of the other animals," he said, adding that he was careful in regards to use of any pesticides.
Ms. Palumbo pointed out the seriousness of the situation.
"The serious consideration of all of this is the rats are now going to my back door which is the kitchen," she said, adding it’s a metal door, which is closed and they can’t eat through it.
"They are crying their lungs out to get in," she said. "They climbed up the garbage pails and whatever food was thrown away they’ve strewed it all over the place."

