AUSTIN — The owner of two apartment buildings just north of Austin was given 10 days to get rid of cockroaches, although the manager said the owners have been keeping the pests under control for years.
The issue came up a few weeks ago when the Mower County Board of Commissioners learned that there had been complaints about the buildings, with 20 units total, at 24248 534th Avenue.
"We had multiple complaints from multiple tenants," said Angie Knish, county Environmental Services supervisor.
When county officials went there recently with a professional exterminator, they were able to go into 12 units and found four units with live cockroaches. Tenants in four additional units said they had seen the bugs, she said.
Cockroaches weren't numerous, and the problem, while minor, is still a public health nuisance. "This is not a large infestation," Knish said.
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However, because of the bugs, "I feel the whole building should be treated," she said.
The buildings' manager, Jason Korfhage of Dune Acquisitions LLC said the problem is being overblown. "I am really irritated at how this investigation has been done," he said, adding that he "has not seen anything this juvenile."
His company tries to keep any pests under control, he said.
"That building is being taken care of, that building is under control," he said.
Any apartment in Austin has the potential for cockroaches because tenants can bring them in when they move in, and then the bugs spread to other units, Korfhage said. So, Dune treats apartment units for cockroaches before people move in and after they move out, he said.
The lease says that it's up to the tenants to pay for getting rid of pests, he said.
Korfhage said he tried to contact Knish to find out who complained so he can take care of the problem in that unit but got no answer.
County Attorney Kristen Nelsen, however, said it's against state law to give out that information.
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In the end, the board unanimously decided it would be better to have Dune take care of the problem and gave the company 10 days to do it. If it doesn't, the county will do it at Dune's expense.
