Robert Austin and his 8-year-old lab Luna like to exercise in an usual spot as they stroll down Faye Road. The road turns from asphalt to dirt, but that's not what separates it from other ones across the city. The collection of wood pallets, tires and random couches is the strange part.
About five times a week, Robert Austin and Luna walk about 200 yards alongside Faye Road until Dunn Creek.
“This is stuff that you can put out in front of your house and the City will come and take it away," Austin said.
Robert and fellow neighbor Skip Carey are left hoping the city cleans up the mess.
“Kind of wish we knew who they were so we can start taking stuff and go over there and dump it in their yard and see how they like it.”
After our story Wednesday, landscaping debris, tires and smaller trash along Faye Road is no longer there. Bigger items though-- couches, tree stumps and landscaping debris remain.
A detective stopped by Thursday to look for illegal dumpers, but didn’t spot any. First Coast News spotted a city mosquito patrol truck searching the area for dumped tires and reported what he found to dispatch. A routine we’re told done about once a month.
“It was full-size Dodge pickup truck silver and green.”
Robert recalled one experience he witnessed first-hand a few months back and said bottom line, the area is too easy to access.
“In a couple minutes, he was gone, the next day when I came here and made the walk, I seen where he dumped.”
Austin says these concrete barriers used to block off the entrance, but have since been removed after being hit at night. A city employee tells us in years past there were about six crews hired to clean up messes like this, but it’s now down to one in some locations.
“I feel bad that they have to clean it up, but it does need to be cleaned up.”
For Austin and Carey hopefully sooner than later.