Local Hotel Cited Over Bed Bugs
August 5, 2016 at 11:57 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
Kosciusko County Health Department issued an order requiring the two-story hotel along the railroad tracks at 223 W. Jefferson St. to have some of the rooms treated professionally for bed bugs.
The order comes after a complaint from a tenant to city code enforcement. The city then contacted the Kosciusko County Health Department, which conducted an inspection with city employees.
Dana Hewitt, code enforcement inspector for the city, said they found existing bed bugs and remnants of bugs and that owners will be sent a letter ordering the business to use a professional company to exterminate the insect.
The business is not facing any fines, but a follow-up inspection is planned, Hewitt said.
“It’s to the point where ... We want to make sure this gets started. Time is of the essence,” said Bill Baxter, environmental scientist for the county health department.
Kim Leasure, who described himself as an owner of the hotel, acknowledged the problem and pointed out emphatically that they’ve never had a problem with bed bugs until a few months ago.
“We never in 30 years had a problem with bed bugs – ever,” Leasure said.
The bugs first arrived about two months ago and attempts were made to get rid of the bugs, Leasure said.
The hotel caters to long-term guests who use sleeping rooms and common bathrooms.
The business along the tracks is somewhat rundown in appearance. An old sign in the front is long gone, and old furniture has been left in the alley for removal.
Leasure said the problem is limited to one area of the 14-room hotel, but was unsure how many rooms were involved.
Bed bugs are small, brown, somewhat flattened insects that feed on the blood of animals and prefer to spend much of their time in bedding or clothing. They feed mostly at night, according to Colorado State University.
The medical significance of bugs is mainly limited to the itching and inflammation from their bites, the university report said.
Despite the “ick” factor and the fact bed bugs can bite, the insects don’t represent a health risk because they don’t transmit diseases, Baxter said.
Exterminators are limited by law to use only chemicals that kill bugs on contact, but don’t kill existing eggs. That means follow-up inspections and treatments are often necessary to wipe out the localized population.
Eradication treatments come in two-week intervals, he said.
“It’s an involved process,” Baxter said. “They’re tough little critters.”
He said the best option in treating the bugs is to use a professional rather than trying to deal with the problem yourself.
Excessive treatments don’t really work and can cause harm, he said. He also cautioned against using excessive heat to rid rooms of bed bugs.
Self treatment with over-the-counter products, he said, often don’t provide effective results.
“It’s very easy to accumulate enough expense trying over-the-counter (products) as it would be to contact a professional at the beginning,” Baxter said.
Baxter said they’ve received a few other complaints this summer about bed bugs, but said the level of complaints is about the same as last year.
He urged hotel and apartment tenants to talk with their landlord first before calling the health department.
Kosciusko County Health Department issued an order requiring the two-story hotel along the railroad tracks at 223 W. Jefferson St. to have some of the rooms treated professionally for bed bugs.
The order comes after a complaint from a tenant to city code enforcement. The city then contacted the Kosciusko County Health Department, which conducted an inspection with city employees.
Dana Hewitt, code enforcement inspector for the city, said they found existing bed bugs and remnants of bugs and that owners will be sent a letter ordering the business to use a professional company to exterminate the insect.
The business is not facing any fines, but a follow-up inspection is planned, Hewitt said.
“It’s to the point where ... We want to make sure this gets started. Time is of the essence,” said Bill Baxter, environmental scientist for the county health department.
Kim Leasure, who described himself as an owner of the hotel, acknowledged the problem and pointed out emphatically that they’ve never had a problem with bed bugs until a few months ago.
“We never in 30 years had a problem with bed bugs – ever,” Leasure said.
The bugs first arrived about two months ago and attempts were made to get rid of the bugs, Leasure said.
The hotel caters to long-term guests who use sleeping rooms and common bathrooms.
The business along the tracks is somewhat rundown in appearance. An old sign in the front is long gone, and old furniture has been left in the alley for removal.
Leasure said the problem is limited to one area of the 14-room hotel, but was unsure how many rooms were involved.
Bed bugs are small, brown, somewhat flattened insects that feed on the blood of animals and prefer to spend much of their time in bedding or clothing. They feed mostly at night, according to Colorado State University.
The medical significance of bugs is mainly limited to the itching and inflammation from their bites, the university report said.
Despite the “ick” factor and the fact bed bugs can bite, the insects don’t represent a health risk because they don’t transmit diseases, Baxter said.
Exterminators are limited by law to use only chemicals that kill bugs on contact, but don’t kill existing eggs. That means follow-up inspections and treatments are often necessary to wipe out the localized population.
Eradication treatments come in two-week intervals, he said.
“It’s an involved process,” Baxter said. “They’re tough little critters.”
He said the best option in treating the bugs is to use a professional rather than trying to deal with the problem yourself.
Excessive treatments don’t really work and can cause harm, he said. He also cautioned against using excessive heat to rid rooms of bed bugs.
Self treatment with over-the-counter products, he said, often don’t provide effective results.
“It’s very easy to accumulate enough expense trying over-the-counter (products) as it would be to contact a professional at the beginning,” Baxter said.
Baxter said they’ve received a few other complaints this summer about bed bugs, but said the level of complaints is about the same as last year.
He urged hotel and apartment tenants to talk with their landlord first before calling the health department.
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