Petal neighbors frustrated over trash, foul smells, explosions coming from home on West 2nd Avenue

PETAL, Miss. (WDAM) — Chris Senter has been living on West Cherry Drive in Petal for around six months now.

For the most part, Senter said he enjoys living there.

But, just across his fence, there’s a new issue each day at the home located at 143 W. Second Ave.

“You cannot even come outside and enjoy your afternoon without issues out of these folks,” Senter said.

Senter said foul smells were just one of the issues he’s had to deal with.

“I’m an electrical guy,” said Senter. “I know what burning wire smells like from industrial work.”

Then, there’s the random explosions in the middle of the night.

“I’ve had multiple parents tell me that their children have been woken up at night and couldn’t go back to sleep because of the noise,” Senter said.

Senter and other neighbors took these and other concerns, including illegal trash dumping, to the Petal Board of Aldermen on Feb. 3.

Petal Police Department Chief Matthew Hiatt confirmed that officers had responded to the home on several occasions for the trash problem.

“Each one of us had the same story, and the city did move forward condemning the house,” Senter said.

Petal Ward 1 Alderman Gerald Steele said the homeowner was given 30 days to clean the property.

Steele said the people living there are actually “squatting.”

“I stressed to this person that what we really wanted to see is the undesirable people evicted from the property,” said Steele.

Under Mississippi House Bill 1200, squatters can be required to leave a property within 24 hours.

After the 30 days, Steele said the city can move to seize the home and/or have it torn down.

“City officials have to be very careful because we have to work inside of due process,” said Steele. “We’re only allowed to do what the law says we can do.”

Senter said he and his neighbors haven’t made contact with the people at the home.

He said he his hope was that leaders can fix these issues sooner than later.

“Get them the help they need to become a productive member of society,” Senter said.

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