There has been a conversation regarding a potential rat issue in Manville that has been ongoing for several months. During the Board of Health meeting on August 19th, Borough Council Liaison Ron Skirkanish stated that people were dumping grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste at the railroad tracks in the South 21st area. Such yard waste is a perfect breeding ground for rats.

The core rat issue seems to be located on the Southside, around South 21st. Comments during the meeting indicated rats are all over the Southside. However, two ManvilleToday staff members reside on the Southside and have not personally witnessed any rats or other rodents. A ManvilleToday staff member living near South 21st also did not receive any notice asking if rat traps were wanted.

Liaison Skirkanish also stated that a Blue Acres buyout property on North 7th was also infested with rats, but no trap was located there. The next day, ManvilleToday drove by the property and found that it was fenced in. Typically, when a Blue Acres property is fenced, it means that the Blue Acres process is proceeding.

Skirkanish proceeded to explain that despite the property being acquired by Blue Acres, the Borough still has to take care of the property, and would have to take care of the rat issue.

"Basically with the way Blue Acres is, they're buying the house, so they sub out contractors who has to knock it down,"

"But if there's problems with that, we knock that down, the rats will go everywhere else." Skirkanish continued.

"What is the cost for the traps?" asked Board President Jessica Nichols

"It's a $110 a month," responded Liaison Skirkanish.

"How many do we have? Each or total for the 8?" asked Nichols.

"A total of 8," responded Skirkanish.

The total contract is $6,500 which will come out of the Board of Health budget, per Liaison Skirkanish's remarks.

Board President Nichols was concerned about money being spent without even knowing what the Board of Health budget is, and without their knowledge or approval.

"But my frustration lays within nothing was brought to the Board of Health which is where the information should be, the budget, (intelligible), what's in our bank account. And we signed a contract without knowing the costs are. What upkeep costs. I mean, decisions are being made without us knowing about it." Board President Nichols stated.

"Even the council doesn't have to approve it," responded Skirkanish.

"Why not?" asked Board President Nichols.

"Because it's a health issue," responded Skirkanish.

"Health because Code Enforcement and DPW didn't do theirs, so now it's come to us,"

"When it comes to a board of health and it's a health issue, we don't need the approval of (intelligible), council, upon mayor, it has to be taken care of." Skirkanish stated.

Viking Pest Control was to have a presentation at the July Board of Health meeting explaining the program for trapping rats, however no meeting took place in July. The Viking contract was signed by the Mayor, and executed on July 16th.

"They were looking for people to volunteer to have those in their backyard," stated Skirkanish

"How did you get volunteers for this?" responded Nichols

"Well, George (Watkins, DPW) put out a notice." stated Skirkanish

"To who?" Nichols pressed.

"To the residents in the area," Skirkanish stated

"I had Rich (Onderko) ask us if we wanted one, and we said sure," Board Member Selody stated.

"You actually contacted the Mayor, correct?" Asked Skirkanish.

"Yeah," Selody responded followed by "I mean, I told him, (name) our neighbor is all right there, we're seeing rats."

"Because you don't want it to come out she got a trap because she's on Board of Health,” President Nichols stated.

"I got a trap because I saw rats!" Board Member Selody responded with laughter.

The Board discussed whether the County Board of Health inspected the properties that had complaints filed back in May and June. On South 20th there were 2 complaints, and the complaints were unfounded and closed.

Nichols was concerned the math wasn't adding up. $880 per month does not properly add up to $6,500. She wanted to know more about the contact itself, however Skirkanish had no information to share.

Contract Details

Skirkanish stated he did not know who signed the Viking contract, and had no specifics on the contents of the contract.

ManvilleToday received a copy of the Viking contract via OPRA. Mayor Richard Onderko signed the contract on July 16.

The contract total is $6,270. An initial service and first month fee of $1,650. Plus 6 months of monthly service for 7 traps at the cost of $770 per month.

"Mayor, do you know who signed the contract with Viking?" asked President Nichols.

"Um, I think the Council approved it," Mayor Onderko, who was sitting in the audience, responded.

"We approved it, yes." Responded Skirkanish.

"But you said it didn't need to be approved," stated President Nichols.

"It was on the agenda, I think it was in July's meeting," responded Skirkanish.

It should be noted that Mayor Onderko was the contract signer on July 16th, which was before this Board of Health meeting took place on August 19th.

Upon checking Mayor & Council agendas, there was no such Resolution on any of the agendas for a specific rodent contract.

Skirkanish stated that there would be a total of 8 traps, however per the information received, Viking Pest Control installed a total of 7 "Smart Box" rat traps in various locations on the Southside. These traps automatically report back to Viking once there is activity in the trap. There is no need for manual checking of the traps, as it's automated.

Per our OPRA request on trap locations, we were given 2 locations on the North and South side of the railroad tracks on South 21st Avenue, and the remaining 5 locations are residential addresses. 4 of the residential addresses are on South 21st, and 1 residential address is on South 18th Avenue.

Board of Health Member Selody said she has a trap, as well as a neighbor a few doors down. However, the Viking trap location report only shows the neighbor's address.

"You have a contact with Viking, correct?" asked Skirkanish to Board Member Selody.

"I have a contact with the Mayor," Board Member Selody responded, followed by a laugh.

It is unclear if one was originally installed at her home and then moved elsewhere, or if it was acquired a different way, as the address was not on any of the documents ManvilleToday received via OPRA.

Rat Trap Reports

From July 29th through September 12th, there were a total of 12 rats collected in the traps. There were 9 rats collected at the 2 traps located at the railroad tracks on South 21st, and 3 collected at the 5 residential addresses.

This is based on the location numbered list ManvilleToday received matched to the location number in Viking's reports.

Board of Health Budget & Part-Time Clerk?

After the Board of Health discussion regarding the rat situation in Manville, there was concern over the budget being unknown.

In the 2025 budget appropriations, other expenses totaling $9,000 were allocated to the Board of Health.

During the public portion of the meeting, a resident was concerned how over two-thirds of the budget (over $6,000) might have possibly now been spent on the rodent control contract.

The resident stated he was concerned that the money was spent without the Board's knowledge or approval.

"I agree, it should've been brought to our attention. But there was no meeting last month, number one. That's come through the county and the registrar's office. The registrar is basically in charge of the Board of Health." Stated Skirkanish.

"We have a registrar right now?" Asked President Nichols.

"Right now, I believe it's going to be Gabbie." Responded Skirkanish.

"She's permanent or she temporary?" asked Nichols.

"Part-time. So is Maureen. They're both part-time." Responded Skirkanish.

"Part-time official, or part-time until they find somebody?" asked Nichols.

"Well, we're going to play it by ear. Maureen is definitely part-time until we hire a full time administrator. Gabbie is a part-time Clerk, and with that Clerk comes the Registrar. She's also the Registrar," stated Skirkanish, who continued:

"We probably won't have to hire a full-time clerk, (intelligible) we noticed with Bill Bray there wasn't enough work for a full-time clerk,"

"The clerk position will probably stay part-time." Skirkanish concluded.

The conversation went on to discuss the Blue Acres properly on North 7th, and the budget concerns were not addressed.

After The Meeting

A few days later, after the meeting, ManvilleToday was notified by Board of Health President Jessica Nichols that Liaison Ron Skirkanish clarified the Viking contract costs would be coming out of DPW's budget, and not the Board of Health's budget.