Residents report rodent infestation at Governor Green Apartments; city orders third‑party inspection

A Bowie resident told the City Council on Oct. 25 that rodents are running across walkways, patios and near children’s play areas at Governor Green Apartments, a privately managed complex. City staff said they have issued municipal violations, asked the management company to remove shrubbery and change dumpster pickup schedules, and will require a third‑party certified extermination inspection report within 10 days.

Linitra Jackson, who identified herself as a resident of Governor Green, told the council her building has “rodent holes in the ground” and that black‑box bait stations the property manager deployed have not been effective: “They use the black boxes as trampolines. They just jump right on it, over it, gone.” Jackson thanked city staff for recent attention but said the infestation remains a danger to children and ground‑floor residents.

Lori Cunningham, assistant director for the Department of Community Services, told the council code enforcement had issued seven municipal violations totaling $1,300 and that staff has asked the property manager, Ross Management Services, to: clean and modify the dumpster area (pickup moved from Monday to Friday), cover holes near the dumpster, remove shrubbery near residential patios, and work with their exterminator to seal burrows. Cunningham said the city manager would send a formal directive requiring a certified third‑party rodent‑extermination inspection and a remediation plan and that the property would have 10 days to respond. “If they have not remediated the property to our satisfaction…we will be working to have a contractor go out and we will take care of the situation ourselves and then bill the property management company for that action,” she said.

City management and council members described the problem as a public‑health issue and discussed enforcement options. The city manager said the city could contract to abate the infestation and recover costs from the owner. Council members encouraged staff to press the county agencies for any available enforcement and to consider raising penalties for multi‑unit properties if necessary.

Next steps described by staff: the city will send the formal directive to Ross Management, require a certified inspection report within 10 days, monitor remediation, and, if unsatisfied, contract the work and seek cost recovery. Residents were offered affidavits to document ongoing sightings for enforcement cases.

Why it matters: Council members said the infestation affects public health and safety, the livability of an apartment complex, and the city’s ability to protect vulnerable residents, including seniors and families with children.

Provenance (transcript excerpts): “I just wanna say…it's in reference to the property that I live on, which is governor Green's, apartments, and it's in reference to the rodent issue.” (Linitra Jackson, citizen participation; transcript block starting ~576.80). “To date…they have issued 7 violations totaling $1,300…we will be sending out a letter tomorrow, issuing a formal directive requiring a third party certified rodent extermination inspector report to be submitted to the city…They will have 10 days to respond.” (Lori Cunningham, Department of Community Services; transcript block starting ~8238.52). "If they have not remediated the property to our satisfaction, then we will be working to have a contractor go on out and we will take care of the situation ourselves and then bill the property management company for action." (City manager; transcript block starting ~8387.98).

Community contacts: residents were invited to provide contact information to staff and to complete affidavit forms documenting ongoing incidents.