Wildlife In Attics Will Be Costly For County
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By MARK EVANS
STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD
Wildlife didn’t seem to have much trouble getting into the attics of the Ste. Genevieve County Courthouse, the Chamber of Commerce building and the Sainte Genevieve Art Guild Museum and Gallery. Getting them out will be a little harder.
The county commissioners voted to accept an estimate by Trapper Joe’s Nuisance Wildlife Control to rid the buildings of their unwanted guests and to plug their means of entrance.
The total cost for removing the “stowaways,” as Presiding Commissioner Randy Ruzicka called them, is $56,743, including a 35% up-front deposit of $19,860.
Ruzicka explained that birds, squirrels and rodents were in the attics, posing serious threats to wiring and to the occupants’ health. He called Trapper Joe’s “a one-stop shop,” in which he will capture the wildlife, move them out and seal the gaps that allowed their entry. They give a five-year warranty.
“It’s a sizeable expense that’s not budgeted for,” Ruzicka said, but one that cannot be put off.
He said many of the intruders have been captured on video.
Meanwhile, the commission approved payment of two invoices from Grayco Roofing Consultants for work on the community center roof. They were for $3,618 and $3,748, both coming out of pre-allocated American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) money.
Meanwhile, things are “one step closer” in putting the 100% grant the county had successfully sought to replace the circa 1935 bridge by city hall on Fourth Street.
“Every baby step is a step in the right direction,” noted Michele Gatzemeyer associate clerk, and the one who has forged through the voluminous paperwork required.
The Federal Land Access Program (FLAP) grant is an especially big deal because it is a rare 100% grant, requiring no matching contribution by the county or city.
SCHMIEDER GIVES REPORT
Scott Schmieder, road and bridge foreman reported that the bases were done on Smith and Westover roads. He said McDaniel Road should be done this week.
He said his crew was also mowing and doing some duropatching on roads.
Schmieder said the boom mower had to be taken to Flieg’s Equipment for repair and that they were having issues with the road grader.
He also said that his men should be wrapping up work at the county fairgrounds later that day.
SEMO MEETING REPORT IS GIVEN
Much of the meeting was spent in closed session, discussing litigation.
Other than that, it comprised of a lengthy report given on the Southeast Missouri Commissioners Association meeting Ste. Genevieve County recently hosted. It was held at Progress Sports Center, with Cochran Engineering co-sponsoring it.
Chris Crocker of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) was asked at the meeting about the desired stoplight at Interstate 55 and Highway 32. He said that MoDOT’s decision was that it did not warrant stoplights and that the turn line about to be added should be sufficient.
Ruzicka remarked that it would likely just make things more dangerous and that they were “not pleased” with the answers they got.
Various grants were also discussed at that meeting. Meanwhile, Alan Wells, director of the combined 911 center in Desloge, talked about the coming upgrade of emergency communications equipment.