JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Feeding the hungry in Jackson might have to be put on hold as township officials deal with a rat problem.
The Jackson Township Council is calling for an immediate health and safety inspection of the Department of Public Works (DPW) building, which also houses the Jackson Food Pantry, after reports of a rat infestation and other hazardous conditions.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn announced the move following complaints from food pantry volunteers and a firsthand visit to the facility. She also raised concerns over additional workplace safety issues affecting other township departments.
“The council believes that several critical issues require immediate attention across various departments,” Kuhn said in a statement. She cited an ongoing rat infestation at the DPW building and ventilation problems at the Jackson Police Department (JPD), which have reportedly caused health concerns among officers.
The council expressed frustration over what it described as years of inaction on these issues. “There is a growing frustration within the council regarding the lack of action on these issues, some of which have persisted for over a decade,” Kuhn said. “It is clear that we need change more than ever.”
Kuhn emphasized that the situation at the food pantry is particularly alarming, given that the infestation could directly impact vulnerable residents who rely on food assistance. “This situation places vulnerable residents who rely on food assistance in an unsatisfactory and unsanitary environment,” she said.
The council is now pressing the township administration to take responsibility and implement immediate solutions to address the concerns.
The Jackson Township Council is demanding accountability as health and safety concerns mount at key municipal buildings.