BROWNSVILLE – A Cameron County man is fed up with the illegal dumping near his home.

Norm Rourke told CHANNEL 5 NEWS piles of trash are an eyesore for him and his neighbors. He said the warning for illegal dumpers posted at the intersection of FM 1421 and Colorado Street is not working.

Mattresses, tires, and plenty of plastics are thrown in plain sight at the intersection. Rourke said he travels down the road daily and is tired of the messy scene.

"It makes me and others – who live in Brownsville, who like it here and are proud of it – realize that when strangers and visitors come here and see that, it's going to hurt us. They say, ‘What a dump!’" he said.

The problem at the intersection is ongoing, Rourke said. He'd like more enforcement by city officials but knows it's impossible to monitor the area every day.

Instead, he's sending illegal dumpers a simple message.

"There's a sign that says don't dump, well don't dump," Rourke said. "I mean that's your responsibility, that's mine - we don't do it."

The trash negatively impacts economic growth and property values, according to Rourke, as it discourages new businesses and residents to come here.

He wants people to take responsibility and dispose of their trash at the landfill despite the fees.

"People who do that are A. lazy and B. they have no respect for other people," he said

Brownsville city spokeswoman Roxanna Rosas said no complaint has been filed with the city for the particular intersection. She created a courtesy report for this illegal dump site following our inquiries about it.

Rosas said crews will be sent to inspect and clean up the site within 72 hours. She added the city relies heavily on the community to report these sites.