Councillors say it is the number-one complaint they receive from residents: rats! That’s why they want City Hall to tackle the issue once and for all.
During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Councillor Ken Sentance made a motion that the city investigate the possibility of creating a pest management subsidy program.
“I know other cities have it,” he said. “They have a program where they pay for half of the service. I know it’s not an immediate effect and it may not seem like much but maybe over time this has an effect and it shows people that at least we’re trying.”
The proposal was met with enthusiasm from other councillors, although there are different opinions on who is responsible for solving the city’s rat problem.
“Is there anything that we can extract from the builders?” asked Councillor Carmen DeRose. “Because that’s what I think the main problem of our source of rodents is. It shouldn’t be on the residents and taxpayers backs.”
Others thinks the onus should be on the region.
“What I would like to see is the region do what we pay them to do,” said Councillor Jim Handley. “We pay a sanitary fee and we pay good taxes here. They need to do their job in regard to the disposal of garbage and waste being left behind.”
But Mayor Terry Ugulini explained that the jurisdiction for garbage issues can be quite complicated.
“I’m not saying the system is perfect,” he said. "If it’s at the curb, it’s the region’s. If it’s along the side of the house or in the yard it’s the city of Thorold.”
Other councillors believe that the issue mainly stems from rental properties.
“In our area we have some vacant properties and we have a lot of rat issues,” said Councillor Nella Dekker. “I know our residents would be happy to see something come forward. The issue is rats.”
Councillor Henry D’Angela would also like to see rental properties targeted.
“If they’re causing problems specifically then this is where a graduated licensing program might fund this program so there would be no cost associated with that coming from the taxpayer but those that are not taking care of their property at a timely basis,” he said.
A staff report on the matter will come forward at a later date. Discussions on a pest management subsidy program won’t take place until the 2025 City Budget Deliberations.
