This week's featured Shop Wharton business
Affordable Pest Management goes 'above and beyond'
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp Mike Moreno, left, and Dennis Kelley handle any pest problem imaginable through Wharton-based Affordable Pest Management.

From bees to termites to ants to snakes, there's little that Affordable Pest Management owner Mike Moreno and his staff can't handle. Since founding the Wharton business in December of 2003, Moreno has just about seen it all as he's answered the call of help from area residents.

Confined spaces, rusty nails, dusty enclosures, stifling attics and every scary creature imaginable are all "just part of the job" for Moreno and technician, Dennis Kelley. Instead of complaining about these aspects, the pair actually seems to embrace such challenges.

"You never know what people are going to call you about," Moreno said.

"It's kind of a surprise to not know what you're doing next," Kelley added.

Moreno is no stranger to such job "unknowns." A former Lower Colorado River Authority Ranger and Wharton Police Department officer, Moreno currently works full-time as the Mental Health Transport officer for Wharton County. At a moment's notice, he may be headed to state hospitals in Austin, San Antonio or even more distant parts of the state as he's on-call seven days a week.

To say Moreno stays busy is an understatement. But he's shuffled two jobs for quite some time.

He first began dabbling in pest management when he was with the LCRA, working parttime for a Houston company. He soon realized that there was a local need right here in Wharton and started Affordable Pest Management.

"I saw the potential," Moreno said. "We are still the only locally owned pest control business. When people here use us, the dollars spent come right back to Wharton."

With such a busy schedule, Moreno depends on Kelley to keep Affordable Pest Management up and running in his absence.

Kelley has worked with Moreno since last Spring. Plans are to soon open a local office adjacent to Moreno's residence.

Business has been solid enough that a second employee is now needed. Moreno is looking for someone who is already a licensed technician.

Moreno says Affordable Pest Management stands apart from the larger, more commercialized pest services because of his willingness to work with local folks to ensure they get their problem handled in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost.

"People pay more for a brand name (service) and don't always get what they're paying for. We try to go above and beyond to provide that service. We try to be fair and honest and we're easily accessible," he said.

Moreno has lived in the Wharton area for most of his 36 years of life. He and his wife, Mandy, have one son, Ryan.

Anyone with a pest problem can contact Affordable Pest Management at 532-2211.