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Residents urge city action on trash, vacant lots and suspected squatting; neighborhood cleanups underway
Summary
Multiple residents told the council about neighborhood cleanups and persistent problems with trash, a large city-owned lot, and a vacant house with alleged illegal activity; officials pledged follow-up from building inspection and council members.
Several neighborhood leaders and residents spoke during public comment at the Muncie Common Council meeting on May 5 about ongoing trash and safety problems in their neighborhoods and asked the city for help.
Janetta Presley, a Thomas Park-Avondale neighborhood board member, said volunteers collected 28 large bags of trash from the fence row in front of a city-owned lot near her home and asked the city to address ongoing dumping on that property. "It makes our neighborhood look horrible," Presley said, describing repeated cleanups on multiple blocks and urging city action on the lot she said is owned by the city.
Courtney Marsh, identified as Southside neighborhood president, asked council members and volunteers to help with scheduled neighborhood cleanups, noting multiple neighborhoods are organizing pickup days and that the Muncie Sanitary District has posted a schedule online to coordinate efforts.
Brian Shaw, a neighborhood association volunteer, said he is following a potential redevelopment project and encouraged neighbors to attend MRC (redevelopment commission) meetings for details on properties that may be acquired or developed.
A resident identifying herself as Amy Duff (address given in public comment) reported an occupied-but-powerless house near 13th and Elm where she and neighbors suspect drug activity and large numbers of people entering and leaving the property. She told councilors utilities were disconnected and that police and code enforcement had been contacted but that the situation continued. Councilman Garrett offered to meet with her after the meeting and said he would follow up with building and code enforcement staff.
Council members and city staff acknowledged neighborhood volunteer efforts and the need for targeted city enforcement on problem properties. No formal council action was taken at the meeting; council members pledged follow-up and encouraged residents to continue coordinated neighborhood cleanups.
Residents announced several scheduled neighborhood cleanups, including dates in Morningside and Southside neighborhoods, and asked for volunteer support.
