Centre Wellington Building Inspector Bob Foster wondered on Monday night if the county might be the best level of government to help deal with termites.
Foster was at council to explain a recommendation that a home at 64 Water Street in Elora receive a demolition permit.
He told council the owners bought the property and planned to put an addition over an attached garage. That required a minor variance, but the owners then found termites in the home during the start of renovations.
Foster said the infestation, “was discovered not only in the basement and garage walls, but throughout the building. As a result, the owners feel they have no choice but to demolish the single family residence and rebuild a new home.
Elora has been infested with termites in some of its buildings for years.
Foster said one problem with the house was its construction used blocks instead of solid concrete walls. He noted that leaves a building particularly vulnerable to termites, because they can enter though very small openings.
“They’re going to encounter some serious termite problems,” he said. “They’ll never be able to treat it all.”
Foster said the new home would be built on the existing house location on the property.
Councillor Shawn Watters asked what will happen to the soil from the home, since it, too, will be infested with the bugs.
Foster said the closest legal dumping site in the area is St. Thomas. He then suggested Wellington County might want to become involved in handling termite infected waste.
“There would be an advantage to a local site,” he said.
For example, Foster added, termites could be placed in old dump sites and allowed to “munch away” on old, buried trash.
He added that termite-contaminated soil could also be placed in old gravel pits, if there is no wood on such a site.
“There’s a very slim chance they would find food before they perish,” he said.
And, Foster noted, the persistent pest “will eventually spread throughout the county. There could be a long-term benefit here.”
Council approved the demolition permit, with the provision that a new house be erected within two years.
