INDIANAPOLIS — Who's mess is this anyway?
That's what folks on the east side want to know about a pile of trash along 46th Street. It's on the border between Lawrence and Indianapolis, and RTV6 found that each city is holding the other accountable.
There is still trash all over the place along 46th Street. Despite some of the mess being cleaned up since the last time RTV6 was out here, a propane tank has been in the trees for weeks.
There's confusion about who is responsible for handling the issues out here. The street is the dividing line between Lawrence and Indianapolis, and that confusion has left some residents feeling like no one cares.
"You call the city of Indianapolis and 90 percent of the time they tell ya – you gotta talk to Lawrence," David Stricker, an area resident, said. "It’s a fight between Lawrence and Indianapolis."
The Indianapolis Department of Business and neighborhood services cleaned up a lot of the mess after RTV6's original story aired in early January.
WATCH | Far east side neighborhood of Indianapolis is tired of people littering |
"Somebody dumped a water softener the next week – I called them – they came out and got that,"
It's a frustrating problem that persists because people won't stop illegally dumping their junk.
"I hate to say it – but it’s some of the people who live out here,"
But... who do you call?
A spokesman from the city of Lawrence says the north side of 46th Street is the responsibility of Lawrence.
Stricker says it's been years since Mitthoeffer Road, in the same area as 46th Street, was repaved and says he's requested repaving with his city council representative in the past.
DPW told RTV6 that they have no record of a council person having requested a resurfacing in the area.
Stricker's response: "Oh good – that’s just what I figured – we’re being ignored."
That's how this air force veteran feels - ignored.
But the problem might be the city's don't know who's supposed to take care of the issues.
Here are the answers RTV6 received:
DPW said, "For this segment of 46th Street, Lawrence fills the potholes."
Lawrence Utility spokesman said they check the certified mileage map and found, "this section of 46th Street falls under Indianapolis." And added, "I am not aware of any other agreement obligating Lawrence to maintain that section of 46th Street."
"Will you two entities stop arguing with each other because those of us on the dividing line are tired of it," Stricker said.
A spokesman for the City of Lawrence says they recently added additional 'No Dumping' signs in the area. Ultimately, the solution to the trash problem boils down to personal responsibility and for people to stop treating this stretch of 46th Street like a dumping ground.
