Ivo Quinonez is trying to figure out what's happening in his backyard.
"As soon as you walk out of the door you can smell it," Quinonez explained. "It's kind of strong."
It's not just his sense of smell that's noticed the change. His eyes can't miss what's feet away from his back door.
A week ago, Quinonez said CenterPoint Energy crews installed a power pole.
"I couldn't believe it," Quinonez recalled. "I know they came and marked on the floor, but I didn't realize they were going to put that right in front of my door."
The pole, Quinonez said, isn't the only problem. He said it's leaking a substance that's spilled on the siding, furniture and appliances.
"It just doesn't come off," Quinonez said. "It doesn't rub off. I already tried cleaning it."
Quinonez said when he bought the home, he knew his backyard was an easement. This gives utility providers the right to do work on properties.
On its website, CenterPoint said land rights allow them to install equipment to provide service. With access to this much of his backyard, Quinonez wished the company put the pole somewhere else.
"Just move the post to the side at least," Quinonez said. "I'm okay with the post being in the backyard, but not in front of the door. That's not right, I think."
ABC13 reached out to CenterPoint about the pole's placement, and the substance leaking from it. A spokesperson told ABC13 they'd look into it, but added the company is busy preparing for a potential winter storm.
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