Dozens of old tires illegally dumped at Omaha church

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Illegal dumping is an ongoing problem in Omaha. So far this year, Omaha Weeds and Litter has reported 317 cases.

Many times, old tires are illegally dumped to save recycling costs.

Driving a full pickup to the back of a church, suspected illegal dumpers are being watched from above. Security camera recordings show them leaving the parking lot empty.

The congregation found 27 old tires left behind.

“We’ll have to pay to have it taken away now,” said church member John Truesdell. “So, they’re just dumping us with the cost while making money for themselves at our expense.”

In the 1950′s, Mount View Presbyterian Church had packed pews. But since COVID, members say if twenty people attend Sunday service, that’s a blessing.

“We’re an older congregation. I’m 73, and I’m one of the youngest ones here,” Terry Coleman said. “So, if anybody has any helpful hints for us to get rid of them... or if we can find the people who did it.”

Video footage shows a pickup with two occupants. There are no plates on the bumper, but there appears to be an intransit in the windshield.

“What kind of a jerk just drops stuff off and expects someone else to handle it, especially an older congregation and one that doesn’t have funds,” Donna Coleman said.

It costs about five dollars a piece to hire someone who can pickup the tires and dispose of them properly.

The congregation’s motto is “serving all people in love,” but members don’t like church property becoming a place for illegal dumping.

“Don’t make this a habit. We want to see this all picked up and cleaned up. We work hard to keep this church going,” Coleman said.

If video footage leads to identifying suspects in the pickup loaded with old tires, don’t expect church members to turn the other cheek when it comes to prosecuting illegal dumpers.

Dumping on private property means that the church can’t ask the city to pick up the tires. The city won’t send the church a cleanup order if nobody files a complaint.

If anyone would like to help the congregation properly dispose of the tires, contact Mike McKnight at [email protected].

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