CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) – Chattanooga City Officials say one local business is illegally dumping cinder blocks, piping and tires near a creek.
City council members were briefed on the issue at Tuesday night's meeting.
They say the fines will keep building, until the mess is cleaned up.
"Building materials, building blocks, and things like that," says Councilman Jack Benson.
The 1200 block of Gunbarrel Road looks like a dump site, and city leaders say they know who's responsible.
"I've had him reported before, and he's paid fines before," Benson says. "But never as significant amount as this fine, and I'd imagine that's why they made it so large."
According to city documents, obtained by Channel 3, Don Walker is facing $50,000 in fines.
For every day he doesn't pay up, he's charged a thousand more.
This after the city land development office discovered Walker was leading land, disturbing work that was sending sediment into a creek and causing erosion.
Violation notices went unanswered, until a hearing Monday.
"Surely, he knew better," Benson says. "He's a long-time homebuilder."
Walker's Brainerd Road business specializes in rental properties.
Our calls to Walker and his attorney went unanswered.
Jack Benson says the city has alerted state environmental officials, aiming to put a stop to the dumping.
"Because if you don't go after one, there will be a hundred in a few months," Benson says. "You've got to stop it right in the beginning."
In addition to the fines, the city is asking Walker for plans on how he will clean up the site and proceed with future work.
Land development officials chose not to comment, saying they expect Walker to appeal and take the issue to court.
