County takes no chances; sprays  for bedbugs at Government Services Center

Only the county side of the facility is believed receiving the monthly treatment, says official.

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer Updated 7:13 AM Thursday, September 2, 2010

HAMILTON — Any public space is not immune to bedbug sightings, including Butler County offices.

Once a month, the county side of the Government Services Center at 315 High St. is sprayed by an exterminator, said Assistant County Administrator Pete Landrum. The treatment includes spraying for bedbugs.

“We’re taking every precaution that we can,” said Landrum about treating for the pests. “Now that it’s making news, people are really paying attention and are looking (for them).”

The county has been spraying for bedbugs for about eight months, and treatments — though done monthly — generally last up to 45 days, Landrum said.

“As long as people come in and keep dropping them off, we’re going to have bedbugs,” he said.

The county commissioners said they were unaware of any problems, though Commissioner Charles Furmon said he’s heard there’s always the potential in the public buildings.

Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said he was unaware of the the spraying and said he would have liked to have been warned that the bugs have been seen in the building.

Jim Dalzell, acting director of the city’s health department, said he had not been informed the Government Services Center was being sprayed for bedbugs. As far as Dalzell knows, there isn’t any spraying being done on the city side of the building.

County Administrator Bruce Jewett said the county typically communicates with city officials about the building if there is an issue. Since extermination services is part of routine maintenance, they did not talk with city officials, he said.

Through August, the county has spent $10,372 for extermination services in county buildings that serve the public. In all of 2009, $14,221 was spent on extermination. Landrum said the bedbugs are not a big enough problem where fumigation would be necessary.

Jewett said there has not been any countywide initiatives to educate staff, but believes some departments have, such as the county’s Children Services and Child Support Enforcement Agency.

Ohio recently was declared the bedbug capital of the U.S. by Time magazine and CBS’ “Early Show.” A recent study that ranked U.S. cities with the worst bedbug problems included Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus in the top 15.

Staff writer Hannah Poturalski contributed to this story.

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