Council hears continued complaints about long-running illegal dumping on NW 107th Avenue; county, Hialeah Gardens and city roles disputed

Council members and residents pressed city staff for a clearer account of responsibility, progress and funding for a long-running illegal-dumping site along Northwest 107th Avenue.

Residents and Councilmember Zogby said the east side of NW 107th — a green strip used for dumping — remained filled with debris despite earlier promises to clean it. City staff (including Ismarie Montreal, chief operating officer, and Holly Sanchez, director of streets) said Hialeah and neighboring Hialeah Gardens coordinated initial cleanups and that Miami-Dade County had provided limited disposal allowances; the city and Hialeah Gardens provided pickup manpower and equipment. Staff said the initial allowance had been exhausted after removing hundreds of tons, and the county agreed to take over further disposal operations.

There was continued disagreement over precise parcel boundaries and whether the green strip fell within the city’s responsibility or that of Hialeah Gardens; staff said portions of the right-of-way are county-owned and county maintenance would include parts of the roadside. Streets staff said the city and Hialeah Gardens had expended funds and manpower; the county’s participation had included an allowance of disposal tonnage but the allowance was limited and was consumed during the initial cleanup.

Council members asked for a clearer written accounting of funds spent and the county’s commitment; staff said they would produce documentation of allowances used, tonnage removed, and the status of disposal arrangements, and that the county had agreed in meetings to assume further cleanup responsibilities.

Ending: Council members said the public wants a visible cleanup and asked staff to return with a status report including the cleanup timeline, expenditure accounting, and specific jurisdictional responsibilities.