News

Actions

Neighbors fed up with trash around Northland house

Posted at 5:26 PM, Aug 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-28 19:16:13-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Neighbors fed up with what they call an eyesore on one person's property are demanding some city leaders take action.

Karie Bradley and her neighbors are tired of seeing a pile of clutter driving by Waukomis Drive and Bryan Avenue.

"I don't understand how it's ok for a person to have five acres of land that they use as a dumping field," Bradley said.

Residents started lodging complaints with 311 in 2014.

It's a lengthy list, calling the debris "an eyesore", "a junk yard" even describing the property as "blighted".

Satellite images shows the unwelcome sight. Recently neighbors have other concerns as well.

"We started noticing other things like people coming late at night, walking up and down the street, people parking in other people's yards and then walking down to the home. That's when we suspected something was going on," Bradley said.

Records show the city has taken the property owner, Larry Dilts, to housing court before.

A city spokesperson told 41 Action News they understand the neighbor's frustrations which is why they increased the number of codes inspectors last year, to help cite and prosecute cases similar to this one.

Meanwhile, neighbors haven't been able to get ahold of Dilts.

"He comes and goes like a ninja so to speak," Bradley said.

But on Monday 41 Action News caught up with Dilts who said a fire destroyed the house Thursday morning.

He acknowledged the complaints regarding the trash and says he's working with the city to fix the problems.

And because the house sits next to a creek, neighbors are now considering filing a complaint with the EPA.