Township puts termite eradication program on hold

ELORA – The township has put termites on hold for now.

A report on the matter was to be presented at the Jan. 30 council meeting, but Mayor Shawn Watters announced new information had been received by staff, and asked to take it off the agenda.

The previous council had directed staff to hire a company that could deliver a termite eradication program, with a plan to treat yards and outdoor spaces in termite zones to eliminate termites and not just move them along.

But according to the Jan. 30 report included in the council agenda, staff had hit a roadblock with Balson Preventative Solutions Inc., the company selected.

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“Balson was selected as the vendor to be the subject of contract negotiations,” states the report by managing director of planning and development Brett Salmon.

"Unfortunately, township staff were unable to negotiate a contract which met the requirements of the RFP.

“Therefore, we are back to a position where it is necessary to seek council direction on our approach to termite management.”

The report outlined three options for council to consider:

• refine the RFP and go to market again to find a vendor to undertake a termite management program similar to that endorsed in March of 2022;
• implement a grant program to partially reimburse property owners for the cost of termite treatment; or
• not to engage in any active termite management efforts.

Watters didn’t speak to the nature of the new information, but said the matter should return to council sometime in March.