Residents at the University Inn on South Water Street are voicing frustrations with pest infestations, despite recent treatments and inspections by city officials.
The Kent Health Department confirmed a cockroach infestation in two units out of the 90 apartments inspected on Nov. 19.
Kyle Kelly, a registered environmental health specialist, says the Health Department is working with the property manager to make sure that these two units are properly treated by a licensed pest control contractor to eliminate the cockroaches.
University Inn Apartment Manager, Cindy Gilbert, confirmed to KSTV that the two identified apartments are being treated immediately by Portage Turf and Pest.
Tenants argue the problem is far from over despite extermination attempts.
Resident, Rebecca Leeann Wilmington, took to Facebook to warn others about her family’s struggle with the infestation at University Inn.
“A lot of people have been saying they’ve been dealing with bugs since 2019,” said Wilmington. “And if I had known that, I would’ve never moved here.”
Wilmington said a contractor came out on Dec. 3 and sprayed six apartments, but is doubtful the conditions will change.
Her Facebook post on Saturday, Nov. 29, prompted former residents to speak out about similar conditions. Jennifer Lynn Macek commented she was able to break her lease three months into living at University Inn because of the “bug problem.”
Newer tenants are noticing roaches throughout the building, not just in isolated units, and have raised concerns about the potential spread of bed bugs.
Ronald Tarver said he’s only been here two months.
“I’ve seen bedbugs and roaches in my apartment,” said Tarver. “I don’t know how long I’ll be here because bedbugs are something hard to fight.”
Another resident, Gus Beinlich, says he sees pests “every now and then coming out of the cabin, a couple in the bathroom, you know, I try to, you know, put bait, spray down and stuff like that.”
The Health Department says they have received “zero open complaints from tenants at University Inn,” according to Kelly.
City officials emphasized that once a formal complaint is logged, the city takes immediate action to ensure the property manager makes repairs in compliance with the Housing Code.
“It’s a place to live,” Beinlich said, nodding.
Sydney Brown is a Kent Stater TV Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
