As local veterans groups prepared for the big Hollister motorcycle rally weekend in early July, they had a dirty little surprise crawl up on them—rats.
As discussed for the first time in public Monday during a special council meeting, the City of Hollister had to shell out thousands of dollars for exterminator services at the Veterans Memorial Building just before the July 3-5 motorcycle rally in downtown Hollister.
The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars branches in the county manage the building. It’s owned by the city, though. And as part of the agreement between veterans and Hollister officials, the city funds any repair costs exceeding $5,000, including the rat problem.
The total cost for the Veterans Memorial Building exterminator services was $5,600 and the work was done by Orkin, according to Brett Miller, director of administrative services for the city.
“Somehow, someway, there’s some areas on the outside of the building, they got into the building,” said Joe Love, commander of the local American Legion.
Love and city officials alluded to an “exterminator” issue at Monday’s meeting when discussing one-time maintenance costs, but did not specify the type of species. On Tuesday, Love acknowledged it was rats.
“It was some rats and stuff,” Love said. “It was jumped on right away. So anyway, it’s taken care of now.”
Love explained that veterans groups had the exterminator come out right before the rally when thousands of patrons walked through the Veterans Memorial Building. There were such activities as autograph signings from two Sons of Anarchy actors on the Saturday of the three-day weekend rally along with the serving of food and alcohol. Typically, the building hosts many weddings and quinceaneras on weekends and some meetings during the week.
Love, meanwhile, surmised the rat infestation was caused by dry weather.
“We’ve got a maintenance program going on now every month making sure they’re not here,” Love said.
Rats haven’t kept customers away. Love confirmed the building is booked up for a year except for January and February when the groups plan to redo hardwood floors.
