By ADAM ATKINSON
North Country Now

CANTON – The Family Dollar at 2 Main St., dogged by a C deficiency rating from state health inspections last year for the presence of rodent feces inside the store, will be closing March 23.

Kayleigh M. Painter, a spokesperson for Dollar Tree Inc. which owns the Dollar General Company, said Wednesday, Feb. 20, that the company has worked with an outside pest control services company to resolve the issue raised by the inspections.

The Main Street store will close its doors for good on March 23. However, Painter specified that the store was not closing due to the failed state health inspections, but because its lease of the building was up.

“We occasionally close stores for a variety of reasons, including sale of the property, end of a lease term, etc. This store is approaching end of lease term,” Painter said.

“The associates have been offered the opportunity to transfer to another store location,” said Painter.

She said that there were no current plans to open a new store in the Canton area to replace the 2 Market St. shop.

A spokesperson with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in Albany confirmed Wednesday that the store had received the deficiency rating and that the store had been fined.

“Following a consumer complaint on Nov. 2, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Food Safety and Inspection inspected the establishment and noted several deficiencies, including a critical deficiency for rodent droppings found on food shelves,” said Kirsten Conley, Ag Department public information officer.

“A reinspection on Dec. 27 revealed continued rodent activity and a $600 penalty has been assessed. Another inspection of the store will be scheduled within 60 days,” Conley said.