Dawson councilwoman outlines bat issue
DAWSON – “Bats galore” is how Councilwoman Phyllis Newill explained the problem that she and other Galley Street residents are having this summer in the borough. Newill said she stopped counting at 500 as bats flew out of her neighbor’s attic. She additionally asked council if she could find someone to build bat houses or bat boxes and have them placed down by the river.
“This is ridiculous,” said Newill. “I’m not the only person in town having problems with bats either. We have seen more bats this summer than we have seen in the past. I think it would be a good idea to have the houses/boxes built and placed down by the river so the bats will stay out of people’s attics and basements and they will eat the mosquitoes that live on or near the river bank.”
Council President Patty Lint agreed and admitted that she had five bats in her basement over the past month.
“If you can find someone who is willing to build the houses/boxes at no charge I don’t see why they could not be erected down by the river,” said Lint. “That would solve the bat and mosquito (problems) at the same time.”
In other matters, code enforcement officer Mike Garlowich reported that he sent two certified letters out to residents and agreed to check on several other problem areas in town.
Council told Garlowich that people are parking on sidewalks in the borough and using the sidewalks on which to fix vehicles and to sell storefront items. Council additionally told Garlowich that they want violators notified of violations and then fined.
Garlowich said the borough’s copy of the BOCA Code (national Building Officials and Code Administrators) is at least 20 years old and asked that updates be purchased. He also reminded council that the law is “cloudy” on violators because if they are cited, and then begin to clean up their property and then stop, the process has to begin all over again.
Lint commended Dawson residents by saying that most people in town make an effort to cut their grass and to keep their property free from debris. However, she said there are the exceptions who simply don’t care or can’t seem to keep their property cleaned up.
In other matters, council:
– Agreed to take out a one-page ad in the Tri-Town Area Historical Society’s book celebrating Vanderbilt Borough’s 100th anniversary and the DL&V Fire Company’s 75th anniversary to be held in August.
– Agreed to renew the borough’s insurance policy with Higbee Insurance Company at a price of $9,734 for the borough building, the contents of the building and borough equipment.
Councilman Jay Nelson said the insurance quote was about $100 less than last year’s premium.
– Garlowich said that a problem reported last month about a Geary’s Refuge Co. garbage truck being parked on Sam Geary’s McGill Street property has been taken care of.