SOUTH AMBOY – Local officials are addressing complaints from numerous residents about a rat infestation within the City of South Amboy.
Residents spoke about rat sightings across the city at a recent city council meeting. In response to these complaints, officials mobilized several key departments including Health, Zoning, Code Enforcement and the Department of Public Works to immediately address the problem, according to officials.
In order to address the complaints, the city dispatched representatives from Health and Code Enforcement to cite property owners who are not maintaining their yards in accordance with the city’s ordinance.
The inspections uncovered several uninhabited bank-owned properties that were identified as responsible for contributing to the infestation. The property owners were cited to ensure that immediate corrective actions were taken.
“Health, Code Enforcement and Zoning officers have been directed by Business Administrator Glenn Skarzynski to engage in a vigorous enforcement campaign to compel negligent homeowners to come in to compliance,” Mayor Fred Henry said. “On the first day of this stepped-up campaign, 21 summonses were issued. In instances where there is continued non-compliance the city will conduct the cleanup and use liens to recover the costs.”
According to health officials, rodents are attracted to areas by available food and water, often from garbage cans without lids, garbage bags left out of containers, and standing water. In addition, piles of debris, unkept lawns and abandoned vehicles can provide safe haven for all forms of undesirable animals.
Skarzynski said the city will continue to issue summonses and the violations include but are not limited to piles of debris in yards, derelict automobiles, uncovered garbage or garbage not in appropriate containers.
“We have responded to specific complaints in both the north and south end of the city and will continue to utilize all of the resources the city has available to mitigate this problem,” Skarzynski said.
Officials have arranged for a special citywide bulk pickup during September to afford property owners the opportunity to dispose of items that may be accumulating in their yards to remove any potential rodent habitat.
“Sadly, some of these properties have deteriorated to the extent that they may be harboring rodents,” Henry said. “We cannot and will not allow this problem to go unaddressed.”