New evidence of mice at City Market Building

By Scott Leamon
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: September 29, 2008

5:25 p.m.

By Scott Leamon:

Roanoke city spokeswoman Melinda Mayo said the evidence was a tripped trap inside the building.  She said the trap did not contain a mouse.  Soruces familiar with what happened said the bait had been removed.  Mayo said the city’s hired exterminator, Terminix, set more than 250 traps in the building.

Mayo said Terminix had gone three days without catching a mouse in the market until sometime overnight Sunday, when someone discovered the trap.

She said Terminix will continue setting traps until “the problem is under control.“

Mayo said she did not know if workers were still finding droppings inside the building.

Mayo said the building would be closed until at least Thursday, which is the next scheduled meeting at the market between city leaders, the health department, and other key players involved.

Several contractors said off camera they couldn’t see the building being ready to open until sometime next week at the earliest.

11:43 a.m.

From Scott Leamon in the field:

Bobby Parker with the Virginia Department of Health says there is new evidence of mice getting into the City Market Building, despite the cleaning and repair that has been done since the City closed the building more than a week ago.

The City will hold another meeting on Thursday.

We’re still trying to determine where in the market building that inspectors found the new evidence of mice.

Watch WSLS at six for a live update on what inspectors found, and where.

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11:07 a.m.

From Scott Leamon, in the field

Meeting has started.

Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham, and City Councilwoman Gwen Mason are in attendance.  Health Department inspectors there as well.

Watch WSLS at noon for a live update on what comes out from the meeting.

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1:33 a.m.

  The Virginia Department of Health and Roanoke city leaders are still mum on when they think the Market Building might reopen.

  Roanoke city manager Darlene Burcham avoided talking to reporters stationed in front of the building Friday.

  Burcham, along with other city administration, attended a meeting with health department employees at the Market Building around noon Friday.

  Health department spokesman Bobby Parker said afterward not much had changed after the meeting.

  Parker said a “significant” amount of work had been done to the building’s interior and “a lot” more work was left to do.

  Nearby restaurant owners reported an influx of customers in the days after the market’s closure.

  Owners termed business as “steady” since.

  Parker said the health department and city leaders will meet again Monday at 11 AM to discuss the market’s status.