County Taking Landowner To Court Over Trash Pile Engulfing Backyard

SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WICS) — South Walnut Street resident Elizabeth Wood says scavengers are just one of many problems associated with a mound of trash that isn't getting cleaned up.

"People every day, they go out in that backyard," Wood said. "They go through the garbage, and it's thrown in my yard, all over the neighborhood. And it's just a big horrible nasty mess."

She says the animals living in the trash are a much bigger concern.

Neighbors down the street say their house is now infested with cockroaches.

"I have a very old husband, and I'm scared we're going to be getting some sort of germs and bacteria come over to our house from all the live mice and bugs that are crawling through this garbage," Wood said.

The Sangamon County Department of Public Health says the pile contains many belongings of an evicted family, as well as other trash.

They gave the landlord a March 7 deadline to clean it himself. When he didn't, they authorized the Highlands Neighborhood Association to bring out a dump truck.

"And I believe they got two dump loads full of trash here before the owner showed up and told him to get off the property," Association Vice President Dennis Lock said. "That he was going to hire a private contractor to take care of it possibly, but nothing has been done since then."

The county is now taking the issue to the courts. In the meantime, neighbors have to wait while the mound of trash festers.

"Make him clean it up," Wood said. "Please."

The Sangamon County Department of Public Health says they are still trying to work with the landlord, who didn't respond to our calls on Friday.

They are also trying to get a judge to give them authority to remove the trash against his will.