CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Homeowners in a Cumberland County community have been forced to take legal action against a messy neighbor.

There are eight houses along a single lane in the farm-like residential area just outside of Crossville. The homes are built on large lots. A few families own horses, but county regulations don’t allow for commercial businesses. However, one homeowner has been accused of using his property for commercial storage and sale.

“It’s been about a year and a half since this started. It started off with just a camper trailer that he brought in,” said Stephanie Humbaugh.

Stephanie and Joe Humbaugh’s home is across the lane from Jim Lance’s property in Cumberland County, where he’s lived for several years. Other homes in this rural neighborhood are well-tended and most people keep to themselves.

Don Dare with News 2’s sister station, WATE, talked with Lance about his property, “Why do you have all this stuff here?”

“Because I have nowhere else to put it, sir. And, I have to pay bills,” said Lance.

Lance is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq. He’s 80% disabled due to a bad back. He said he once owned a storage company in Crossville. He and his family live in a farmhouse almost invisible from the road.

“It’s a junkyard. We’ve asked him, We have politely asked him. We even offered to help him. We will come back and help you clean it up when he first started. For some reason, he just refused the help,” said Joe.

When asked how all of the stuff accumulated in his yard, Lance said that it came from trade.

“Do you sell this stuff?” asked Dare.

“Yes, when I can, that’s the whole point. But I don’t sell it here. But I have no place else to put it,” said Lance.

“We’ve been to court. Oh, goodness, many times. Between two different judges, we have gotten two different judgments from them in our favor,” said Stephanie.

In April, Cumberland County Chancery Court found that Lance operated a salvage business on his property in violation of restrictive covenants. He was ordered to remove the items.

In May, Sessions Court found the stuff on Lance’s property affected the health and safety of people in his community. He was given 60 days to clean up the property and ordered to remove the tires, fuel tanks, broken glass, appliances, junk cars and batteries.

“See they want me to remove something that feeds me,” said Lance.

“The next thing you know he kept bringing in more and more and more. Now he’s turned it into a salvage company that he advertises,” said Stephanie.

“Yes, there is some stuff I need to remove, but I’m doing it as I can,” said Lance. “I’m doing what I can sir.”

Lance is being called into court again to explain why he has ignored the judge’s order.

“The court has ruled in our favor every which way you can think of and it doesn’t seem to matter,” said Joe.

“I just want it cleaned up, that’s it,” said Stephanie.

Lance’s neighbors have offered to help him remove the stuff in his yard. So far their assistance has been ignored.

“Oh, yeah, I understand [why my neighbors are upset]. I’m just trying to survive. I ain’t trying to mess with nobody,” said Lance.

Lance has been issued a show cause order and must again appear in Cumberland County Sessions Court. He will be asked to explain why he has defied and exceeded the judge’s 60-day order in April to clean up his property. The court ruled that items such as batteries, motors, fuel tanks, as well as junk vehicles, and household garbage affect the health and safety of the neighborhood. Lance has also been fined $13,000 for the violations. He told us that’s money he does not have.

Again, his neighbors, many of whom are veterans like Lance, have offered to help.