ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT) – People living in the neighborhood on Pine Road are now seeing a cleaner community after dealing with litter from abandoned properties for months.
The abandoned properties next door to the home owned by Cedric McNeill have been a constant source of complaints. Skeleton mobile homes, trash and old tires that were littered throughout turned the once-proud Pine Road neighborhood into an eyesore.
McNeill and his neighbors spent months pleading with county leaders to force the property owners to clean up their mess.
“We work hard, and we want to come home and I also don’t want my wife to be embarrassed to bring company home or to have people over,” McNeill said. “She reminded me that you’re a preacher and people come to the preacher’s house.”
McNeill said he found it hard to believe that no one answered his cries for help. With no immediate answer, he reached out to News 19.
After our story on April 4, McNeill said he was able to speak with the property owners. Daryl Sammet, the Limestone County District 1 commissioner, also stepped in to notify the county health department to force the owners to get the mess cleaned up.
McNeill is thankful that his and his neighbors’ prayers were answered.
“We want to thank News 19, and we want to thank Archie Snowden for coming out and seeing about us,” McNeill said.” We thank the Lord that we have some good folks to see about us in our time of need.”
The Limestone County commission added that, due to existing restrictions, they were unable to impose fines on the property owners.
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