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Last updated on Thursday, September 20, 2018
(MARTINSVILLE) - Martinsville city officials are considering a plan to fight the spread of bed bugs by requiring discarded mattresses be wrapped in sealed plastic bags.
"Bed bugs in this county and the state are on the rise," said Martinsville City Council member, Ben Merida told FOX59 News. "Nationwide they're on the rise, so different communities are seeing this problem more and more."
Martinsville Mayor, Shannon Kohl, says she has heard from police officers, firefighter, and EMTs about frequent encounters with bed bugs when responding to homes.
Merida says he brought the idea to the council after talking with his sister, who works in the medical field. He wants the city to develop a comprehensive educational platform, primarily focused on helpful information posted on the city's website. The information would provide residents with practical ways to prevent and eliminate bedbugs in their homes.
Merida says families that are infested with bed bugs don't have the resources to combat the infestation.
The plan would also include a requirement that any resident setting out a mattress to be picked up on bulk trash pickup day must first wrap the mattress in a sealed plastic bag.
Merida says he and other city leaders are consulting with the city attorney to draft language for an ordinance. It could be January before an official proposal goes before the city council, he said.
Information FOX59, https://fox59.com
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