Rats and unmaintained properties, two items which go hand-in-hand, dominated the discussion last week at the Summit Hill Borough Council meeting.

About 20 people attended the meeting and about half of them expressed concerns about rat problems throughout the town. Some gave specifics regarding properties from where the problems are originating.

The council responded that there’s little it can do to eliminate either the rats or the run down properties.

Jayne Turner said she moved to Summit Hill from Erie and didn’t realize there was a rat issue in the borough. She said, “To have rats coming through the property in the day flabbergasts me.”

She said, “I had poisoning in my system because of the rodent issue.” She told the council, “I see rats every day.”

“There’s only so much we can do,” said Michael Kokinda, council president, explaining that issuing citations is one of the few options.

David Wargo, a member of council, said the borough has taken some proactive steps including hiring a full-time code enforcement officer and passing a vector control ordinance.

He added that Summit Hill isn’t the only borough with rodent issues. He said rat issues exist in other towns, including Lehighton and Jim Thorpe.

Wargo said he understands the seriousness of the situation because his car had sustained expensive damage from a rat. As a result, he said he personally hired an exterminator for his property at a cost of about $600 per year.

Police officer Jason Bell, who is also the borough’s zoning officer, said he issued 10 citations during May.

He said although he can issue citations for general violations he spots, he cannot enter an individual’s property - including a residence - without that individual’s consent.

He said many unkempt properties are owned by banks, absentee landlords and LLCs which either are difficult to reach or flatly refuse to let him on the premises.

Betty Stempa said she has seen rats in the vicinity of her property.

Wargo said spending money to have a rat eradication program through the entire town would be extremely costly and would necessitate significant tax hikes. He explained that public funds can’t be spent on private properties.

He said rats generally roam looking for food and water. Such food and water can be found in gardens, bird baths and bird feeders.

Wargo said people wanting to combat the rat issue have options less expensive than exterminators. He said bait stations can be purchased for as little as $14 each. “You could buy 10 for $140 and put them on your property,” he said.

“Even if we wanted to have a townwide exterminator, I don’t know if we could find one to serve 1,500 homes or if we could afford it,” he said.

Resident Sandy Dellicker suggested that the borough make a wholesale purchase of traps or bait stations and make them available to the citizenry.

Bell said, “If someone complains about an infestation, we have to make contact with the owner. We can’t just go onto the property without permission.”

“If I get denied access to that property, there’s not much more I can do,” he said.

He can cite the property for such things as quality-of-life issue if he sees the problem without going onto it.

Turner told the council, “I’m not looking for sympathy. I want action.”

Kokinda replied, “If I can’t get access to a property, we can’t break the law to enforce the law.”

Charles Ziegler, a resident of the borough, said, “We have a rat problem big time.” He urged the borough to declare a state of emergency.

Councilman Alan Kruslicky said old-fashioned rat traps can be purchased for about $3 each.

He said, “The rats have been around since the beginning of time,” adding that they’ve been a problem in other communities but have now become a problem in Summit Hill.

Bell said he can issue citations with the first fine being $25, the second $50, etc., but if they pay the fine, he said, “Even the judge can’t make them comply.”