Columbus Public Health officials have completed a study of the rat infestation in Clintonville. Officials looked at more than 800 properties over the summer, and found 34 percent had some sign of rat activity. The Centers for Disease Control considers any community with more than 2 percent of properties with rat activity as a risk to public health. Mayor Michael Coleman's proposed city budget for next year sets aside 150 thousand dollars to hire two people to work directly on the issue. But Christopher Keller with the Clintonville Area Commission is asking City Council to set aside more money to combat the problem.
Council members say they will consider the results of the study when deciding whether to amend the budget proposal. Health officials say the key to lowering the rat population is cutting off sources of food, water, and shelter.