The problem of homelessness in Mexico has reached a level that public officials are bringing it up and one Mexico Council Member claims other counties are bringing homeless folks to town and dropping them off.

Council Member Chris Williams manages the local McDonalds and told fellow council members at the city’s last meeting on Aug. 14, that he’s been told that law enforcement agencies outside of Audrain County have brought homeless people to Mexico and dropped them off at Walmart.

“Most of these people are not from Mexico,” Williams said. “When I talk to them they’re not from here. They’re getting brought here or dumped here for whatever reason.”

Williams isn’t the first person to say they’ve heard rumors of homeless people being dumped off in Audrain County. City Manager Bruce Slagle said the city has investigated and continues to investigate.

“I can’t confirm or deny,” Slagle said. “We heard those things and we try to catch some of that. They think they’re helping.”

Williams said he speaks to a lot of homeless folks because they come to McDonald's looking for a job so he naturally has to question them. He said many of them come in looking like they’re experiencing a drug high and his crew has several videos they’ve taken of their interactions.

“It’s ridiculous at my work,” Williams said.

Council Member Steve Haag said he’s talked with several people and the issue keeps coming up.

“I hate to use the word ugly, but it’s starting to get ugly,” Haag said. “Especially in certain parts of town.”

Williams said there are certain parts of town to avoid after 10 p.m. like the convenience stores.

“It’s a hot mess,” Williams said. “It’s just not a good look for our community.”

Williams admitted that he doesn’t have an answer for the issue.

“These people need to live somehow but I don’t know where the solution leads and I don’t know what the solution is,” Williams said. “More and more people are coming up to me and saying, ‘Hey what’s going on here?’”

Mayor Vicki Briggs said she’s had conversations and it’s hard to know what’s right and what’s rumors.

“We’re all hearing on the council about the homeless and the people who are wandering the streets,” Briggs said. “Honestly I don’t know what’s true and what’s not true about what we’re hearing.

Haag said he doesn’t know the answer either but reminded his fellow members the problem the city is dealing with is a human one.

“People come to me and I get it but if you’re living on a sidewalk or in a million-dollar mansion you do have rights,” Haag said. “I know they want people cleared off the streets because it looks ugly in our community and bad. But those people still have rights. I know our public safety does the best to take care of that situation but it may be a bigger issue.

Slagle said the problem extends far beyond Mexico and discussions with the county and public safety need to start. Slagle said the toughest issue is getting a grip on exactly what the problem is.

“We don’t think it’s a Mexico issue, we think it’s a little bit bigger than that,” Slagle said. “We feel we need to address it, we just don’t know what it is yet.”