Agenda - 05-20-2003-8s - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 DATE: 05/16/03 TO: County Commissioners John Link, County Manager FROM: Wilbert. McAdoo, Public Works Director RE: Environmental Remediation in Whitted `A' Building Over the past several years, periodic reports of bats entering or being present in the Whitted `A' building have been reported by building occupants. Public Works staff, in conjunction with Animal Control staff, responded to these reports to ensure the safe removal of the bats. It was eventually determined that a colony of bats were in the attic space above the main Library. While bats are very beneficial in terms of insect control, especially mosquitoes, their presence within buildings is typically considered undesirable for both aesthetic and health concerns, as well as general fear of bats by many people. Public Works staff met with several animal control and abatement contractors and also undertook research to become more knowledgeable concerning bat roosting habits, their ability to enter structures, techniques for removal and exclusion, etc. It was determined that the bats were exploiting several voids between the brick and flashing around the wood Hailers used to hold roof gutters at the roofline on the rear of the `A' building. At the time of roof replacement on the Whitted Building, design work included repair and/or replacement of any cornice moldings, drip edges, flashings, etc. which may have allowed access by bats (It is reported that bats can enter spaces as small as '/" by '/2"). In addition, Public Works staff installed fine wire mesh over existing attic vents that may have been large enough to allow entry by bats and at the end of rafter tails inside the attic. It was believed that the majority, if not all points of entry, had been eliminated during the course of the re-roofing and associated work.