Several residents attended Weissport Council's meeting Tuesday to ask council to reconsider having rat traps baited, because the rats are back in town.

Several years ago, residents had reported "rats the size of cats" and according to Dennis Moser, a former council member, he said he had seen one last week that was at least 10 inches long and had a seven-inch tail.Moser said he killed one of them, but said at least four more in his block, plus other neighbors in other areas of town, reported seeing rats in their cellars and garages.Moser suggested council have the borough worker clean out the "run," which is overgrown with weeds and full of stagnant water. The "run" is the open drainage ditch which carries excess water runoff to the Lehigh River because Weissport is located in a flood plain.Moser said rats love stagnant water."This is a health issue," said Moser. "There used to be six traps that were baited on a regular basis. That is why you never saw rats, because the bait traps were working."Council President Shannon McAward said that the cost to bait the traps had been an issue at budget time and council had stopped the service because no one ever saw the company working.McAward agreed that the service needs to be continued, but wondered if the service could be provided by borough workers at a lower cost.Council member Steve Mansueto volunteered to call the pest control company to restart the service in the interim.In other business, Don Frehulfer, former mayor of Weissport, said he was at the meeting to dispel a rumor that his children are stealing tax checks and cashing them."I don't have any children living at home," said Frehulfer. "I don't appreciate people spreading rumors about them. They are good kids and they don't steal."Frehulfer said a resident came to his home to ask about the rumor and he came to the meeting because he was concerned.Frehulfer's wife is the town's tax collector.Council member Tommy McEvilly said that he had looked into the matter when it was brought to his attention, but he had already determined that there was no truth to it before Frehulfer brought the issue to council.Council also approved purchasing a 2009 Crown Victoria police car for approximately $22,323 through CoStars.The borough had received a $40,000 grant toward the purchase of the police car and to install new traffic signs in town.Mayor Tina Hagenbuch also requested that council set aside $1,000 to purchase a new police radio from the grant funds.Sue Pywar noted that she has made progress with preparing for the installation of the playground. She said that the borough was advised to purchase pressure treated lumber to contain the tire mulch in the play area.She also said the old equipment needs to be taken down as soon as possible so the space can be prepared to install the new equipment.McAward noted that she will be chairing a bicycle event in the Lehigh Canal Park on Oct. 31. She said there will be food, games and prizes.The event is in the planning stages.