Public Works Director Lyle Thomas addressed the Saint James Municipal Utility Board on June 2 about squirrels gnawing on waste collection containers throughout the city.

“We’ve got a couple of them off of Terry Lane, about one or two squirrels (that) are terrorizing the neighbors,” said Thomas.

Nathan Singleton’s residence was attacked by the furry nuisance and the city helped replace the lid on his trash can.

Singleton used peppermint oil to keep the squirrel away from his residence, but that made the squirrel go across the street and cause issues for his neighbors.

  “We’ve got one that’s chewing up the dumpster behind City Hall,” said Thomas. “This isn’t something that we kind of even thought about.”

Thomas said that the city is in the process of ordering live squirrel traps.

Utility Chair Stephanie Hayes said that ordering live traps would be better than spraying trash cans with different squirrel repellents.

“Probably,” said Thomas. “You can use different things. You can use peppermint oil. You can use clove. Some people mentioned red pepper or some type of pepper juice.”

He said the issue with trying to add odors to waste bins is that eventually the scent will wash off after bins are left outside for an extended period.

“I don’t know what the solution is, but the squirrels are very thick,” said Thomas.” I’ve had a lot of complaints about the number of squirrels in town. They’re trying to cut their teeth. They start on the lid cause they can sit on top of it and chew on the corner.”

Thomas mentioned that squirrels in Illinois were chewing on power lines.

“So anyway I guess sanitation is going to into the live tracking business as far as squirrels when they do damage on some of these people,” said Thomas.

Hayes asked if the city would have a city wide squirrel hide sale once they’re finished dealing with the squirrel problem.

“I’m staying out of that,” said Thomas.

In other news, City Administrator Leeann DeMouche introduced a resolution for the board to present to the city council.

The resolution would recommend the city council to approve a fleet card application with Wright Express (WEX) Inc., that would help the city cover fuel related expenses for employees.

DeMouche said in the first year with WEX the city would receive 15 cents back for every gallon purchased. In the years following the discount would decrease to 6 cents a gallon.

The board approved the recommendation with a 4-0 vote to place the resolution on the agenda for the June 8 city council meeting.

The next utility board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on July 7 at 1400 Nelson Hart Drive St. James.