During the regular City Council meeting March 15, local business owner Joe Pearl asked council members for help, since he is having difficulty with his neighbors. Except his neighbors are several nonvenomous snakes and mice housed in the basement of the house between the two buildings he owns with business partner William Eaton.

Pearl said he and Eaton have spent $1.5 million to renovate the old Martin Furniture building and another building that used to house a yogurt shop.

The snakes are a project of resident Gary Heckenberger. According to Pearl, the stench coming from the basement where the animals are kept was not an issue until the buildings on either side were renovated. They are now home to Lehigh University students. Pearl and Eaton also plan to open George’s Light Lunch, a steak and sub shop, in one of the buildings.

After Pearl complained to the health bureau in August, inspectors were sent out, but nothing was done, he said.

In January, another inspector was sent out, and Heckenberger was given 60 days to find a new home for the animals.

Karner said, “We certainly don’t want to see snakes and other animals disrupt what could be a number of viable businesses in the downtown.”

Pearl told council members, “If people move out of these apartments and don’t come to my businesses, I’m going to lose all these rents. Then, every dime I put in over on the Southside is going to be useless.”