BOC hears complaint on bat ad

Strickland told commissioners that it “looks like they’re putting the cart before the horse” in advertising for bids, before they have voted on the matter.

“It makes people wonder if we’re getting in the same situation we had (with the former administration) before,” Strickland said. “…It looks like we’re getting back to where we started.”

Chairman Anthony Dove explained that the request for bids was simply a way of finding out how much such a procedure will cost, since their removal has to follow specific guidelines as a protected species.

“The way I understand it is that it is something that’s got to be done,” District 2 Commissioner John Pethel said. “

“It’s a major health issue, and the question is who we use, not if we do it or not,” District 1 Commissioner Stanley Thomas said.

Chairman Dove explained that bat droppings, or guano, are a threat to human health. He also said that waiting longer on ridding the old courthouse of the problem could damage the reconstruction work that has already been done on the building.

“This is something that needs to be taken care of,” he said.

Dove also said the bat issue is one of those things he never anticipated when he ran for county chairman.

“I’ve learned more about bats than I’ve ever needed to know,” he said.

“Mr. Strickland, rest assured if we were trying to hide anything from you, it wouldn’t have been in the newspaper,” District 5 Commissioner Bruce Scogin said.

The commissioners were scheduled to discuss the matter again at their Sept. 8 meeting.