The North Lewisburg Library has a bat problem.
Village Administrator Todd Freyhof told council this week that what was believed to be a couple of sonar-guided squatters has turned out to be a much larger problem. The village owns the library facility at 161 Winder St., leasing the structure to the Champaign County Public Library for the North Lewisburg Branch.
Since 2003 the library has been operating from the village-owned building, the former Friend’s Church. Through the lease agreement the library handles interior cosmetic repairs, but the village is responsible for major issue.
Freyhof said library staff members saw a bat in the building early in the year and then noticed a couple more in April. A pest control company was called to remove a handful of bats found a much bigger problem.
“We may have 100-200 there in the peak,” Freyhof said.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) there are 10 bat species commonly found in Ohio and all eat insects. Their benefit to farmers makes it unlawful to kill bats, as all forms are protected.
“Bats are the only major predator of night-flying insects and they help farmers by saving them billions of dollars a year on pest control,” the ODNR website reads.
ODNR says bats generally live outside but can find their way into man-made structures through gaps barely more than an inch wide, where they roost in a building’s highest points.
Freyhof said a company contacted to remove the bats indicated it would secure gaps in the structure and then install an exclusion device, which is essentially a one-way door that allow the bats to exit the facility, but would block them from re-entering. After all bats exit the structure, the device would be removed and the hole would be sealed.
In order to protect flightless bat pups, the state does not allow exclusions to be performed from May 16 through July 31, unless there is a situation where human health and safety is at risk, according to the ODNR website.
Though killing them is illegal, ODNR also recommends individuals not to handle bats unless using thick gloves. The website recommends individual bats be captured in a box and then released outside near a tree, because bats are unable to fly from the ground and will need to climb.
Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in the United States, but their waste matter also carries dangers. Exposure to guano can lead to a lung infection known as histoplasmosis.
For that reason, Freyhof explained, the company also factored in removal of guano, cleaning and disinfecting in its bid.
The only quote the village received for the work was $30,000. Because of the high cost, Freyhof said he will seek additional bids.
In other business, council:
-Heard an update on the work for the new location of the village police department.
-Learned that village police officers are contemplating an offer to take part in training to allow them to assist emergency medical responders in incidents where squad crews are short on personnel.
-Heard that Freyhof is creating a schedule and budget for village roadwork that will plan for more than 10 years in the future.
-Heard an update on village water and sewer projects.
-Learned that Freyhof has interviewed representatives of a company interested in providing street sweeping services to the village, but he is waiting for a cost estimate.
-Approved a resolution in increase the cost applied to a property taxes when the village is forced to mow overgrown yards. The previous rate of $75 per hour was raised to $150 per hour.
-Fielded questions from a resident interested in organizing a farmers market in the village.