Health department outlines Clarksburg rodent control plan, requests roughly $4,600 in county support
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Summary
Decatur County Health Department described a multi‑phase rodent control plan for Clarksburg that includes community education, distribution of traps and screens, use of restricted rodenticides under licensed staff, monitoring and data reporting. Health staff asked commissioners for about $4,600 to cover program costs.
Sean Durbin of the Decatur County Health Department presented the county’s Clarksburg rodent control plan on Nov. 3, describing community outreach, supply purchases and monitoring protocols.
Durbin said the department held a public meeting in Clarksburg attended by about 40 residents and reported strong community buy‑in. The plan’s Phase 2 includes distributing copper mesh and rodent screens to block entry points, providing snap traps to households, and setting secured professional traps the department will monitor. Durbin said staff have obtained an industrial pest control license so the department can purchase restricted‑use rodenticides for limited, targeted application.
Durbin told commissioners the department has already purchased some supplies and estimated total program costs at about $4,600. He asked the board to consider using county disaster or contingency funds to cover the expense this fiscal year. The department will collect catch/reporting data from participating households to track outcomes; staff said initial monitoring would occur every other day and could taper to weekly or monthly as success is achieved. Durbin estimated the program could run for several months or longer.
Commissioners expressed general support and directed staff to use available disaster line funds if appropriate. The motion to provide funding was not shown on the record as a formal vote during the meeting.