City to Clean Up Raleigh 'Trash Lake'

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - An area in Memphis looks like the final resting place for most discarded items in the city, with a field full of everything from paper to old furniture. Tuesday, city officials went out to the Raleigh area to see how to respond to the mess.

From Covington Pike this piece of property, by outward appearance, might look like a tranquil place to throw a line and catch a bass. But upon a closer look, walk just a few feet and you'll soon see garbage piled on top of garbage.

Over the years residents who live nearby say it's become a dump for anyone and everyone to throw their unwanted things and unmentionable property away.

That's until FOX13 News arrived with Crystal Thomas as she looked for her missing brother Marlon there Monday.

"We're left clueless and we don't know what to do, but were not going to give up," Thomas said Monday.

While Thomas wasn't found, this mess was. Pile after pile, dump after dump, it's plain to see that either no one knows about this, or no one cares.

FOX13 then called District 1 Memphis City Councilman Bill Morrison.

Morrison took the time on the 4th of July holiday to come out and check out the problem. Tuesday he came back, but this time with backup.

"We're going to get it fixed," said Morrison. "Our community enhancement team immediately responded. In less than 24 hours we will be sending notice to the owner, who lives in Forrest City, Arkansas. He'll have 7 days to comply; after that we'll clean it up and bill him for it, but we will get the area cleaned up immediately."

Along with community enhancement, Morrison brought city code enforcement to survey the property.

"We don't play the finger-pointing game, if it needs to be taken care of the City of Memphis Community Enhancement is here to assist," said Michael Todd with Community Enhancement.

"We're trying to clean this city up, trying to take it back," added Kim Yarbrough, also with Community Enhancement. "We want Memphians to be proud of where they live and work and want everyone to flourish and we're in the business of doing this."