LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland is looking to crack down on people who dump trash on vacant lots and the property owners who don't clean up the trash.
- Lots on Kendrick Avenue have had numerous trash issues
- Lakeland police, code enforcement officials discuss strategies
- More Polk County headlines
One example is several adjoining lots on Kendrick Avenue. There have been numerous trash dumping issues over the years in the area.
Pastor Charlie Nealy has a small church near the trash dumping area. He is frustrated. “You know, this is our neighborhood,” he said. “This is our community and we don’t appreciate them coming in and destroying our community no more than anyone else would.”
Code enforcement manager Jim Dehne visited the site with Lakeland Police Capt. Marvin Tarver to try to figure out who dumped some of the latest trash.
“Let’s see if there is any indication of who might have been dumping this stuff,” said Dehne as he tore open some trash bags looking for evidence. He didn't find any.
Over the years the city has paid contractors to clean up and haul off the junk. Volunteers have even organized clean up projects. But as soon as the lots are cleared, more trash shows up.
"It’s really frustrating,” said Dehne. “We’ve been dealing with this for over 10 years in the exact same location."
LPD has been talking with code enforcement about strategies for catching the dumpers but doesn’t want to be specific about its plans. “Well, we have a number of things we can put in place, strategies working with code enforcement to try to catch these people,” Tarver said.
At Monday’s city commission meeting, commissioners discussed holding a special workshop to consider increased fines for property owners with trash related code violations. A date for the workshop hasn’t been set yet.