During a recent meeting of the Loyall City Council, concerns were raised by residents over the outside conditions of a home formerly owned by Acey Cornett and now owned by J.P. Morgan Chase Bank on Green Street in Loyall. Resident Jerry Gibson said he lives beside the home and unsanitary conditions exist now that the home has been abandoned for the past three years.

“The swimming pool behind the house is filled with water,” said Gibson. “Me and Mr. Crider have tried to keep the grass cut when we could, but this has been going on now for three years. My girls get eat up with mosquitoes every year coming from the stagnant water in that pool. This is really a health issue.”

Another resident, Charles Lovely, who lives near the abandoned home said the grass desperately needs cutting since it is now “about knee high.” He asked the city if there was any way they could assist in getting the grass cut.

“I really don’t know what to tell residents about this home since it is now owned by a bank,” said Mayor Clarence Longworth.

Gibson asked the mayor if he could make calls to the bank asking if something can be done about the dangerous conditions which exist.

“I can’t see why something hasn’t been done already about this home,” said Longworth.

Lovely said he was afraid someone is going to get in the home, strip it of copper and then burn it putting a lot of residents in danger of losing their homes.

“I had to put up a privacy fence in my back yard because I have a special needs child and she doesn’t realize when she just hops over a normal fence and gets in that pool,” said Gibson. “I’m just afraid another child will wander in there too and get in that pool and drown.”

Longworth said the city has had inquiries at city hall about people wanting to purchase the home. He said it “looks like the bank would want to sell it and he doesn’t understand why they haven’t.”

“We’ll write a letter and ask the bank if they’ll cut the grass and secure that pool,” said Longworth. “It’s a liability to them if someone gets hurt on that property especially with no one living there.”

City Clerk Michele Howard verified J.P. Morgan Chase Bank paid the 2011 property taxes on the home in question.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com