Chaffee man complains of roach infestation

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Most people try to live in peace with their neighbors. But Jerry Ayers is having a difficult time accepting the hundreds of roaches that occupy the property next to his home, especially when they crawl over for unwelcome visits.

"They've been in that trailer for four or five weeks," Ayers said. "There are hundreds of roaches in there, and that's after the landlord set off 14 roach bombs in the place. Now they're coming over here to my house, and it's out of hand."

The roaches are mainly within a boarded-up, abandoned mobile home on property adjacent to Ayers. Chaffee businessman Marcus Seyers owns the property the home is located on, but not the home itself.

Seyers confirmed his ownership of the property but declined to comment on the matter.

"Marcus Seyers is a really good guy, and it's not his fault this has happened," Ayers said. "It's the owner of the trailer who has let it get like this."

Roaches scurried up the skirt of a vacant mobile home in Chaffee, Mo., after a neighbor, Jerry Ayers, removed their cover Wednesday. Ayers is concerned because the vermin have migrated to his nearby residence. (Fred Lynch)

The trailer's owner could not be reached for comment.

Chaffee city attorney David Summers said complaints such as Ayers' are handled in a similar way to other nuisance complaints. "Mr. Ayers will need to take his complaint to the police department and see where that leads," Summers said. "Chaffee handles nuisance complaints just like most other cities."

Ayers' daughter and neighbor, Michelle Holman, said she is beginning to experience roach problems as well, although her mobile home is farther away from the abandoned mobile home.

"The roaches are starting to come over here now," Holman said. "Last night my daughter saw them and started screaming. Something has to be done about it."

According to Chaffee city hall, Ayers has contacted the city several times and made his complaint at Monday's city council meeting. However, he was told he must provide documentation.

"The city requires some level of proof before it can move on in such a case," Summers said. "This is much more complicated than a normal nuisance complaint because of the situation. You can just drive by and see tall weeds or an accumulation of trash."

Ayers plans to bring a video and pictures of the mobile home and roaches to the next city council meeting Aug. 6.

Debbie Eichhorn, councilwoman for Ward 2, where Ayers' home is located, declined to comment.

Ayers' hope is that the structure is condemned and removed. "I'd really like to see it gone," Ayers said. "It's an obvious health hazard that I don't want anywhere near me or my family."

jsamons@semissourian.com

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