FLINT, MI (WNEM) -
Tammy Pemberton is in a stinky situation. She lives next to a home in Flint that isn't only an eyesore with a yard full of junk, but there is also a lingering smell that Pemberton said is disgusting.
"Unless you have identified or been around a dead body, you would not know the smell, but it's a smell you can't get rid of," Pemberton said.
The home on Wyoming Street, on Flint's Northeast side, reeks of must and rotting meat. Several neighbors who live on the block wonder what's going on inside.
The home was condemned earlier this year. The electricity is disconnected, water lines have been pulled, but neighbors, like Pemberton, said somebody still lives in the house. They said that person has a houseful of cats, and because of that smell, wonder if some cats inside might be dead. Nobody was home when TV5 was at the home.
"I can't open my windows, I can't run my air conditioner, because that smell gets into my house," Pemberton said.
And on days like Tuesday, when temperatures soared to triple digits, Pemberton said this is not a good thing. She said she has taken the smelly concerns to the city. She said the city has not responded to her.
Tuesday afternoon at 4:30, TV5 stopped by the Flint building inspector, who was gone for the day. TV5 then went to Jason Lorenz, the public information officer for the city, and he said this case is now a priority.
"I know that they [building inspection] are short-staffed and definitely have a full caseload, so I'm pretty sure the problem is being addressed, and per your request, it's definitely going to get immediate attention," Lorenz said.
Meanwhile, back on Wyoming Street, that's all the neighbors want.
"We're hoping to get it tore down, cleaned up, get this neighborhood looking better than what it is, so people come back," Pemberton said.
Stay with TV5 as this story develops.
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Some of the debris that is scattered
Neighborhood Enforcement Officer
TV5’s Andrew Keller interviewing Tammy Pemberton
