Deltona's Flooding problems continue

[chadtm80]

Water woes continue in my CIty


Deltona Plans To Turn Neighborhood Into Retention Pond


DELTONA, Fla. -- The city of Deltona received nearly eight feet of rain last year, and things haven't been much drier in 2003. That has folks concerned about more flooding.
Right now, streets are lined with miles and miles of blue hoses in an effort to keep the roads clear and homes dry. But that's not all Deltona is doing to stem the tide. There's a controversial plan to spend taxpayer dollars to turn a neighborhood on Beechdale Court into a water retention pond.

When it rains, the folks on Beechdale Court, figuratively speaking, have beachfront property.


New manmade culverts, pumps, hoses and storm drains are holding off the water, until these homes can be bulldozed for a retention pond.

Water isn't the only thing rising here on Beechdale Court. Tensions are also rising as some residents are agreeing to sell, while others are holding out.

Joyce Stocks is one of those who gave in to the city's offer.

Her neighbor, Jerry Hale, did not. Now, the two don't even talk to each other.

"Attorney's asked us not talk to each other and not to talk to the press and we haven't," said Jerry Hale. Hale thinks the city's offer for the appraised value is all wet; he wants more. "If we sold out cheap, we wouldn't buy an equivalent house somewhere," claims Hale.

Because of poor planning by the county, the city is spending $10-million dollars, over five years, to buy homes and land to make way for the water.

Joyce Stocks sees the reasoning, "if this area can just be allowed to flood they don't have to be afraid anymore because there's a place for the water to be."

The city says it's not sandbagging. They say they're serious and that they've already started making plans to build the retention area, with or without Hale's consent.

The City Manager says the houses were built when the area was in unincorporated Volusia County. Since Deltona has taken over, it's now become the city's job to fix the problem.

The first phase of the Beechdale Court buyout will be approved at the city council meeting next Monday night. The city hopes to get the land cleared and the project started before the rainy season arrives.
Copyright 2003




Deltona Homeowners Push City To Address Flood Problems


DELTONA, Fla. -- Some Deltona homeowners say enough is enough. They want their flooding problems to be drained away.
As the floodwaters rise in Deltona so do the tempers. At an informational meeting, the public was let in on the city's plan to drain the floodwater through a series of culverts.

It's too little, too late for some residents, like Donald Weimer. "Now my house is under three feet of water. Right now!" exclaims Weimer.


If anyone has a legitimate gripe, it's Donald Weimer. Two weeks ago, in the middle of the night, the water began to creep into Donald's house from Lake Theresa, a rude awakening.

"Oh, my God. I didn't know what to do. Wiped off my feet and went back to bed and I couldn't sleep," says Weimer.

It wasn't long before he was forced to leave the house he and his wife had build a quarter century ago. "Twenty-five years! And it's all gone. Just gone!"

Now all he can do is watch with fish in his front yard and ducks on his doorstep. He hopes the city will do the right thing, right quick.

The city will sign a contractor to begin digging culverts tomorrow. They hope to have the project done by the end of May.

[StormCrazyIowan]

Eek!

You guys are getting what we need! We've been overly dry for the last year and a half!

[chadtm80]

Ya, this is crazy we are in our dry season too..

[wx247]

Well... at least fires won't be a problem for a while.

[Amanzi]

Gee Chad:o

The last round of heavy rain was the largest amount we had dumped on us in one go. The creek at the back of my house has broken it's banks. A few more inches (hopefully not going to get that today... Im praying!) and the water will be right up to the foundations of my house! We get all the run off from the road, so it adds to the accumulation in the creek. Hope the rain amounts are light for us today.