5 months ago
Recess at the Learning Train Kids Center doesn't always last long.
Taneisha Davis says the abandoned house next door doesn't just smell bad and look awful, it creates another problem that forces her to limit the time her children play outside.
"It's just an awful smell. We see possums, rats, spiders, dead animals," said Davis.
She says the critters even try to make their way over and through the fence. Creating a big concern for some parents. She says some have removed their children from the center because of the issue.
Lashunda Cook, another employee says they have called the city and the health department, but nothing has changed yet.
"Nobody's doing anything about it, and it's not fair to the children," said Cook.
"Still haven't heard anything, and it's been over a couple of months," said Davis.
She has worked at the center since it started 3 years ago and say over the years the problem's grown worse.
A sign on the house says it is in violation of the Macon's standard unsafe building abatement code.
The city's director of Economic and Community Development Department, Wanzina Jackson says her department couldn't contact the property owner and that has tied up the case in court.
She says with private properties, the city has to try to contact the owner and go through the courts before anything can be done.
"We are in the process of putting that property on the condemnation list with regard to demolition," said Jackson.
She says her department ranks properties on the demolition list to determine which ones are demolished first. They look at factors like if the house is burned, falling in, or poses a serious safety hazard.
Jackson says it could be a few more months before the daycare sees any action with the abandoned property next door.
