Serenity Towers is still not compliant to code. That is the word from supervisor Eddie Jones with City of Memphis Code Enforcement.
Inspectors came to Serenity Towers to take another look at what improvements have been made in getting rid of bed bugs and structural and mechanical defects.
Inspectors said they have noticed a lot of improvements, but it just was not enough yet.
“I’m mad as hell. All the rent I’m paying and getting eating up. That’s what I’m saying,” resident Glitters Fletcher said.
Fletcher is talking about bed bugs that plague her every night. They have affected her from the time she first moved into Serenity Towers six months ago.
Fletcher said managers made sure her apartment was treated for bed bugs by the pest company, but bed bugs are still attacking her.
“They trying to do their best but they can do better,” Fletcher said. “I haven’t seen any improvement ‘cause hell I still get eaten up.”
City of Memphis code enforcement descended on Serenity Towers, checking to see what improvements have been made.
“They did a lot of repairs that we asked them to do but they are still not in compliance,” Jones said.
Global Ministries Foundation sent us a statement from the CEO and president Rev. Richard Hamlet, which said in part “Global Ministries Foundation has spent nearly $250,000 on efforts to eradicate the recurring bed bug problem and that work continues. 100 percent of the apartments designated by code enforcement to have possible bed bugs have been re-treated in the last 30 days. We are fully committed to continuing to make steady progress.”
The statement also went on to say management will give 100 new bed mattresses, box springs, and frames for residents plagued by bed bugs.
As for Fletcher, that steady progress cannot come soon enough.
“I can’t afford to leave,” Fletcher said.
Inspectors plan to share this information in Environmental Court.
