LIMA — A dispute over a port-a-potty has led to a stinky situation between two neighbors.

The relationship between Marc Crowder and his next-door neighbor, Carolyn Gross, first plunged into conflict when Gross installed a port-a-potty in her yard six weeks ago. Crowder lives behind Gross on Brice Avenue, and with the port-a-potty backed up at the rear end of Gross’ property, it sits less than 20 feet from his dining room window.

“It’s 15 feet from my dining room table and five feet from my picnic table,” Crowder said. “The port-a-potty is behind her garage, so it’s out of her sight.”

At first, Crowder said he didn’t mind having it there, assuming that it would not be left clogging his dining room view for very long.

“I asked, ‘Why is it there?’” he said. “‘Is it there for a party? Is your plumbing not working?’ No, it’s just there for her guests to use. It’s there permanently. She rents it by the month.”

Crowder also said Gross has the port-a-potty pumped once a week, ensuring it is maintained. As the weeks passed and the two neighbors continued to push their views, tempers soon flared, leaving the twosome flushed with anger.

“The police came because she and I got into it and I called her a few choice names,” Crowder said.

Crowder’s potty mouth has not deterred Gross, who maintained that Crowder has harassed and even threatened her over this, as well as other issues, leading her to pressing charges.

“Every time I put something up, he calls the police,” she said. “I put up a fence, and he called the police. I put up a light, and he called the police.”

In a final act of protest, Crowder has placed his own port-a-potty at the edge of his property line next to Gross’ driveway, its door pressed against the dividing fence.

“I called the city and the health department, and they can’t do anything about it,” he said. “So now she can see how she likes it.”

City Law Director Tony Geiger said he has not dealt with this kind of situation before, and 2nd Ward Councilman Sam McLean called attention to this issue in an attempt to air things out.

“This is something we need to look at,” he said, before the council referred this issue to its Neighborhood Concerns Committee.

As for now, the two port-a-potties remain at their posts with no relief in sight.

“When her port-a-potty goes, mine will go,” Crowder said.

Until then, no one is going.

A port-a-potty that has been in the backyard of Carolyn Gross’ property for six weeks is visible from neighbor Marc Crowder’s dining room. The portable restroom has led to conflict between the neighbors, even escalating to police calls. https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2016/05/web1_PortAPotty2.jpg A port-a-potty that has been in the backyard of Carolyn Gross’ property for six weeks is visible from neighbor Marc Crowder’s dining room. The portable restroom has led to conflict between the neighbors, even escalating to police calls. Craig Kelly | The Lima News A “protest” port-a-potty sits on Brice Avenue at the edge of Marc Crowder’s property. Crowder placed it at the edge of his neighbor Carolyn Gross’ driveway to protest a port-a-potty she set up in her backyard visible from Crowder’s dining room. Gross has kept the port-a-potty on her property for six weeks and has no plans to move it. https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2016/05/web1_PortAPotty1.jpg A “protest” port-a-potty sits on Brice Avenue at the edge of Marc Crowder’s property. Crowder placed it at the edge of his neighbor Carolyn Gross’ driveway to protest a port-a-potty she set up in her backyard visible from Crowder’s dining room. Gross has kept the port-a-potty on her property for six weeks and has no plans to move it. Craig Kelly | The Lima News

Feud over permanent port-a-potty

By Craig Kelly ckelly@civitasmedia.com

Reach Craig Kelly at 567-242-0390 or on Twitter @Lima_CKelly.

Reach Craig Kelly at 567-242-0390 or on Twitter @Lima_CKelly.