Kitchener residents dealing with termite infestations shouldn’t get financial assistance at this point, city staff say.
City councillors spent part of Monday morning debating what, if anything, the city should do for the owners of 13 properties in the Laurentian Hills neighbourhood.
The termites were discovered last fall at 20 of 24 properties along Greenock and Briargate drives.
City officials say they’re concerned about 13 of those properties, and want chemical extermination work done before Oct. 1, when exterminators stop for the season due to weather concerns.
Residents of some of those properties had asked for financial assistance to complete the work – a request city staff recommend should be denied.
Tim Benedict, Kitchener’s manager of buildings, said that’s because other municipalities they’ve studied don’t offer similar programs.
“Really what we’ve done is mimic what other municipalities are doing,” he said.
Diane Lishman was one of the homeowners to receive a letter from the city, even though she says she’s never seen termites on her property.
Told about the city’s recommendation, Lishman said she was “surprised.”
“I just think it’s a joke,” she said.
Councillors also heard from Dr. Tim Myles, who oversees Guelph’s termite control program.
Speaking to CTV News outside the meeting, Myles said he feels the city has done a good job in mapping the boundaries of the infestation, and needs to continue working to isolate it.
“At this stage, that population is ready to migrate out to other blocks – if it can find a way across,” he said.
Councillors deferred any decision on the matter to next week.
