04/02/2024
Success!
The stormwater pond on Lester Road is clean!
Thank you, City of Apopka! The residents and business owners in the surrounding area are delighted and those of us in the area that require it as an escape route from disasters are ecstatic.
Photos 2, 3--235 W Lester Road Apopka Stormwater Pond—DrO--17 March 2024 ELECTION DAY WEEKEND
One year, six months, and three weeks of phones calls, letters, emails, texts, and public comment presentations have come to fruition. The process to cleanup started just prior to announcement of Hurricane Ian in September of 2022.
The process of destruction of the pond started in 2018 when the cleaning crews lost their jobs and maintenance ended. It went from empty and clear to packed with foliage and cloudy.
Photo 5--235 W Lester Rd Apopka Stormwater Pond--Google Earth--2018 01 03 prior to Nelson's Election
Photo 1--235 W Lester Rd Apopka Stormwater Pond—DrO--2023 06 13
Phone calls started to Commissioner Nick Nesta over months and months with promises of answers. There were no returns. I did not know if he took the issue to the department heads or not. Each time we spoke he said he would follow up and get back with me.
After nine (9) months of no results or answers from the City, I repeatedly contacted the United States Department of Environmental Regulations, the Saint Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Regulations, the Orange County Division of Environmental Protection. All placed the onus on the City of Apopka.
The City is responsible for maintaining our stormwater system to standards and knows how to do it to protect our lives and properties.
Through a public records request, I obtained a copy of the new report on the maintenance of stormwater system. Most of the ponds were in hideous condition and there was confusion about ownership. It is interesting that the 'separated' maintenance crew leader had left a complete record of years of service. It didn’t need to be recreated.
I then prepared a presentation with visuals for the City Council comment period on 21 June 2023. I even presented a list of companies engaged in cleaning ponds to the City Clerk so that they could proceed with an RFP.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/MzjJMNqr5kA?si=wfZU-anMZcgKO_VI
Following my presentation, other citizens made calls and sent emails. I appreciate their solidarity in trying to solve the problem.
Did it get the citizens of Apopka anywhere? Apparently, not. No responses. No work. The aquatic foliage grew and grew and grew.
Next step? More phone calls, letters, and then calls to the new compliance director who had worked for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Last month, I made the round of calls and emails again.
Today the pond is clean! Thank goodness. Hurricane season is coming.
Photo 4--235 W Lester Rd Apopka Lester Stormwater Pond after initial calls—DrO—2022 09 27
