Rat infestation frustrates county residents

By Raenard Weddington
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

An estimated 30 residents from Essex and Dundalk came before the Baltimore County Council Monday evening to complain about what they said was a major rat infestation problem in their neighborhoods.

The residents told the council that the rat population has grown so large the rodents are visible at all times of day and people have started shooting them with pellet guns.

They urged the council to implement the county’s rat control program in their communities, which include Colgate, Middlesex, Inverness, Middle River, North Point Village and Eastwood.

Council members gasped and groaned as homeowners like Lee Betz of the Stemmers Heights neighborhood in Essex gave vivid details of neighborhood children actually playing with the rodents.

“We are a small community with a big rat problem,” Betz said, adding that she has been asking the county for help for more than a year.

“My call to action was in August 2014 when the neighborhood children were chasing rats and trying to play with them,” Betz said. “It’s not up to us to police our neighborhoods and put ourselves in jeopardy. We’re here because this problem is beyond us and we need a higher authority.”

The residents said the problem has become so large that they would take action with their own extermination plans starting this Sunday if the county failed the act.

Under the county’s rat enforcement procedures, residents can file a complaint about an infestation by calling 410-887-3351 or by going to this website. A county investigator will normally respond within 10 days to identify any properties in the area that may have conditions that are leading or contributing to the rat problem.

Property owners that are found in violation of county regulations are then given information on how to eradicate the rats and asked to take action within a certain time frame. Those who fail to clean up their properties can face fines of up to $500 a day.

[pullquote]We are a small community with a big rat problem[/pullquote]The county has also contracted with a local exterminator to treat neighborhoods with large rat populations, but the county only treats homes with ally access, according to the county’s website.

Bob Driscoll, the president of the Aero Acres Civic Improvement Association in Middle River, said the current rat eradication program does not service single-family homes because most houses do not have alleys to access their backyards.

“I’ve returned to state my case to change this policy of not bating single family homes,” Driscoll said.

Clifford O’Connell of Middlesex said it’s unfair that his tax dollars are funding a program that can’t be utilized by himself and other members of his community.

“Our tax dollars are going to the rat eradication and we want the treatment,” O’Connell said.

Driscoll told the council that if it failed to execute a plan of action, then he and his fellow community members would continue to take matters into their own hands.

“We set the dates of April 10 and 24 as target dates for a community wide bating of rat poisons to have a maximum impact,” Driscoll said.

Councilman Todd K. Crandell, R-District 7, who represents the affected area in southeast Baltimore County, commended residents for eloquently expressing their grievances and collectively rallying for change. He was impressed by the  turnout.

“This is pretty unprecedented” Crandell said. “It’s really neat to see this dynamic occurring, but it’s unfortunate that it has to be around this issue.”

“You came here with fact based ideas and different suggestions. I can tell you that you are being heard.”

In other action, the council approved  bill 17-16, which, as amended, implements a ban on the building of casinos on the Timonium Fairgrounds off York Road.

The bill, which goes into effect on April 18, comes after an agreement in March between the Maryland State Fair and the Greater Timonium Community Council. Under that compromise, the fair agreed not to pursue casino gambling and the community agreed not to oppose off-track betting at the fairgrounds.

Residents of Timonium became concerned about the possibility of casinos at the fairgrounds when they learned in January that the Maryland Jockey Club had received permission to open a simulcast off-track betting facility at the fairgrounds that would be open all year instead of just during the summer horse racing season.

Residents immediately began campaigning against the measure and both the Baltimore County Council and the General Assembly began drafting legislation to oppose the off-track betting parlor.

The bill approved last night – which was sponsored by Council member Wade Kach, R-District 3 – reflects the agreement between the fairgrounds and Timonium residents.

“This has been quite a process that has gone on for a number of months,” Kach said. “The end result is good for all concerned.”

In addition, state Del. Chris West, D-Baltimore County, withdrew his bill in Annapolis that also aimed to stop off-track betting after the agreement was reached.

“I believe this is a win-win-win-win situation for all affected parties,” West said in a previous statement. “The residents of Timonium can breathe easily that they will never have to fight another battle to prevent slots or a casino from being introduced in Timonium.”

Eric Rockel, the president of the Greater Timonium Community Council, told the council last week that he supported the compromise and written legal agreement signed by the Maryland State Fairgrounds to never seek or allow casino gambling.

The agreement is awaiting signage from the Maryland Jockey Club.

Rockel said that attorneys agree that Kach’s amended bill would “help clean up legislation.”

The council also approved resolution 37-16, which authorizes the county to accept a donation of $65,000 from the Parkville Recreation and Parks Council toward the cost of renovations to the racquetball courts at Northeast Regional Recreation Center.

— Kristen Adornato and Victoria Wolfgang contributed to the report on the off-track betting.