Residents at Liberty Green apartments frustrated by overflowing trash, delays in collection

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Residents at the Liberty Green apartments on South Hancock Street said they're living in unsanitary conditions caused by uncollected trash. Overflowing dumpsters filled with bags of garbage have become a major concern for those living in the complex, located between Jefferson and Liberty streets.

Stacee Spurling, a resident of nearly eight years and president of the Liberty Green Resident Council Board, said it's "hot mess."

"We are having trash overflow," she said. "We have maggots. We have rodents. It's a disgrace. It's been embarrassing to look at this trash."

Spurling, along with Laverne Smith, vice president of the resident council, expressed frustration, saying their complaints have been ignored.

"We pay our rent, we respect where we live and we expect them to respect us," Smith said.

The complex, which houses more than 400 units, is owned by the Louisville Metro Housing Authority and managed by Ludwig and Company.

"LMHA is fully aware of the current challenges at Liberty Green and is actively working to address and resolve the issues," LMHA said in a written statement Wednesday.

Residents said they've received little communication about when the trash will be collected.

"You're saying you're paid for it, and it's supposed to be picked up," Spurling said. "So what's the excuse?"

According to Spurling, efforts to get answers from the management office have been met with silence. On Wednesday, the company that provides trash service to Liberty Green said the trash wasn't picked up because of an unpaid bill. That past due balance was paid Monday, and the company said service will resume Thursday.

Residents remain hopeful that the trash collection issue is a thing of the past, restoring sanitary conditions to their community. Spurling emphasized that the community refuses to let Liberty Green face the same neglect seen at other properties owned by LMHA, such as Dosker Manor.

"We need this trash picked up," she said. "We do not need rodents. We do not have to have this area looking like this. We are not going to be another Dosker Manor."

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