The manager of a Johnston County hotel says the facility doesn’t have a problem with bed bugs even though an inspection by health officials last week showed signs of bed bugs in 7 rooms.
Following a complaint, Larry Sullivan, Director of the Johnston County Environmental Health Department, said an inspector went to the Value Place at 142 Cleveland Crossings Drive, near the I-40/NC42 interchange, on July 10th.
According to a copy of the inspection report, live bed bugs were found in Rooms 109 and 312. Signs of bed bugs were located in Rooms 215, 221, 230, 303, and 305.
The inspector noted the rooms should not be rented until treated.
WTSB News spoke with Mike Gandhi, General Manager of the Value Place on Tuesday. Gandhi said he was anticipating the inspection after asking two guests staying in one room to leave following a fight. Gandhi said the couple was upset they were asked to leave and threatened to file a complaint about the hotel.
Gandhi said health inspectors “did not find anything” although the county report disputes his claims.
The manager said a local pest control company sprays once a month at the facility. Following the inspection, the pest control company was asked to come on Monday. “They found nothing,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi refused to identify the pest control company so WTSB could independently verify what they may or may not have found.
The environmental health department director said the rooms in question would not be reinspected but the report did ask the motel to call the county once the pest control treatment of the rooms were completed.
