For the third time in recent weeks, people asked the Chattanooga City Council what can be done about a massive mosquito infestation they say is caused by a Lee Highway business that stores hundreds of tires outdoors.
"This mosquito problem is of an epic nature," Glen Meadows told the council Tuesday night. He described stopping in his truck to pick up trash and noticing "30 to 40" mosquitoes on the dash when he got back inside.
Mr. T's Tires in the 7000 block of Lee Highway in Chattanooga, Tenn., is shown on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. Several business owners and members of the community are upset about tires being dumped in an alley near the business."I'm swatting and flailing my arms, there's blood spots all over my arm," Meadows said.
Neighbor Melissa Jennings described how the whining bloodsuckers sneak into her house through the dog door and swarm her when she takes the garbage out.
"This isn't a normal mosquito problem. It's beyond anything I've ever experienced," Jennings said.
Meadows said he and others have called, sent emails and worked with their councilwoman, Carol Berz, over a couple of years. Neither named the business, Mr. T's Tires, nor the owner, Randy Johnston.
City Court records show Johnston received citations related to tire storage in August 2017 - that one was dismissed - and March 27 of this year. The new citation was set to be heard April 12, but Judge Sherry Paty delayed it until May 3.
Meadows said he's been given different stories about the business, first that it was moving and then that it was grandfathered under a 2016 city code amendment.
"You don't have anything to do with City Court. Is there any other recourse?" Meadows asked. He cited the old jingle about April showers and May flowers.
In the neighbors' case, he said, "April showers are going to bring May and June and July and August mosquitoes, and we would like your help."
City Attorney Wade Hinton told Meadows the business wasn't grandfathered and suggested the neighbors bring their evidence to court on May 3.
Contacted for comment Tuesday, Johnston, a candidate for Hamilton County Register of Deeds, called the stir politically motivated and referred questions to his attorney, Phil Fleenor. Johnston has said the business is run by his son.
Fleenor said after the council meeting the April 12 hearing was delayed because Johnston had retained him only two days earlier and he needed time to prepare for court.
"We have issues with that citation and who got cited," he said. "We will take that up with the judge at the appropriate time and put on our proof."
Donna Williams, administrator of Economic & Community Development for the city, said in a statement Tuesday that commercial property and fire codes aim to "create the safest, healthiest, and most attractive public realm possible, without infringing on the rights of private property owners or business operators."
She added, "Our code enforcement officers have repeatedly cited this property for various violations of our codes, per these ordinances, and we share in the public's frustration at this property owner's non-compliance with our requests. This is now a matter for the courts to address, and we join with the public in hoping that we see this matter fully resolved very soon."
Contact staff writer Judy Walton at jwalton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416.