Local

Roswell homeowner told to clean up junk in next 30 days

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell leaders have given a homeowner 30 days to clean up trash on his property that neighbors allege has been spilling over into a nearby creek bed.
 
Yvonne Wichman and her neighbors contacted Channel 2's Mike Petchenik because they didn't hear back about their concerns that trash had been piling up near Foe Killer Creek off Upper Hembree Road.
 
"It's been hideous. It's been awful," said Wichman. "We have seen truck, truck bodies, automobiles, washing machines, toilets, sofas, chairs, all sorts of odd furniture."
 
Wichman said she's even seen soiled diapers thrown in the woods, causing concerns about the health and well-being of herself and her neighbors.
 
"It's not a good thing, not a healthy environment," she said.
 
Resident Kathy Wentzel told Petchenik she no longer allows her children to hike in the woods behind their neighborhood.
 
"I can't understand it," she said. "I don't understand why, when you can put your trash on the side of the road and the city will pick it up, or you can pay small amounts to have it taken to the dump."
 
Petchenik emailed Roswell officials pictures of the trash and a city spokeswoman emailed to say code enforcement has given the property owner 30 days from last Friday to comply.
 
"This problem has been going on for months according to the complainant," the email said.  "The complainant states that someone is living in a tent on the property.  Code Enforcement has issued a notice to them to remove all of the 'yard sale' items out of the yard.  The officer wasn't able to make contact to view the back yard.  He said he tried to view from the complainant's yard but could not see the debris from that angle. "
 
Petchenik confronted a man at the home in question who admitted to the mess in the backyard.  But he told Petchenik he had "no idea" from where the junk in the woods came from.

Roswell city spokeswoman Julie Brechbill said the homeowner is only responsible for cleaning the items on his property.  If he doesn’t comply, she said he’ll face a citation.