How Arrogant Can winter springs
City Officials Get ?
You're not going to believe what you read below. The attitude of this City Manager, and HIS Commission is nothing but shear arrogance, and a total lack of respect for something that was the City's FAULT ! Oh, but the City will give them THREE MINUTES to present their side to the Commission before the "dais darlings" take a vote. You couldn't get three minutes of silence from them ---- much less than they would take all night to discuss the location of a toilet in "Tiny Town". It's sickening!
City Manager's quote is one of the most dishonest statement on record. He actually said that he --
"wanted to make sure the what City does is right for the taxpayers !"
NOW THAT IS ONE FOR A COMEDIAN ON COMEDY CENTRAL !
Seminole Chronicle - Family wants WS to pay for pumping sewage into house
Monday, September 5, 2005
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAFE TO PLAY AGAIN: Five-year-old Leah Mize runs around like a tiger in the
hallway of the family’s home, which was filled with sewage after a mistake by
Winter Springs city employees caused a backup through the Mizes’ plumbing. Walls
from six rooms had to be torn apart and replaced, and carpets and tile sanitized
and replaced, as well. Though the family’s life is nearly back to normal, mother
Wendy Mize said their troubles aren’t over yet. She said the family has paid
nearly $20,000 of their own money to fix the house, and are fighting for the
money from the city and insurers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family wants WS to pay for pumping sewage into house
By Michelle Yoffee-Beard | September 02, 2005
WINTER SPRINGS - More than a year after Hurricane Charley tore its way through
Central Florida, one family wants Winter Springs to pay for the nearly $65,000
in damage to a house.
The family's home was damaged when raw sewage was accidentally sent by a city
employee to the family's house.
Last year, the day after Charley hit on Aug. 13, a mistake at a Winter Springs
sewage lift station turned the lives of the Mize family upside down. The error,
a flip of a switch in the wrong sequence by a city employee, sent a sea of raw
sewage flowing into their Tuscawilla home. The sewage station had been on a
generator since the hurricane the previous night.
After the house tested positive for E. Coli bacteria, Wendy and Vincent Mize
said they knew that they had to take their three children and dog out of the
home until it was safe to go back. The city paid for an apartment while the
family was gone.
Now a year later, they are back in their house, but are out more than $20,000 in
out-of-pocket expenses because the city has not paid for everything the Mizes
feel it should.
"We had to incur close to $20,000 of expenses out of our pocket replacing
carpeting. We replaced ductwork. We did that all at our own expense," Wendy Mize
said.
They decided to replace the air conditioning unit because they didn't feel safe
with the mold and potential hazards that could be flowing through the air.
Because the unit was old, they had to pay for it themselves.
Insurance only paid for depreciated costs, not replacement value.
"We didn't expect them to do the air conditioning unit, but we wanted the ducts
replaced," Mize said. "The city never tested for airborne contamination but we
needed to know our family was safe."
The E-coli contamination was detected through swabbing, not through airborne
tests.
"They depreciated the carpeting because
they said it had been three years old and we kept saying that this wasn't our
fault. They didn't give us full replacement value, and we had to pay
for it."
Shortly after the hurricane, commissioners told residents that the city would
pick up costs not covered by private homeowner's insurance or by the city's
liability insurance.
In addition to the out-of-pocket expenses, the Mizes also want some additional
money for pain and suffering.
They've hired an attorney to try to recoup their costs and may file a lawsuit if
their demands aren't met.
"They didn't give us full replacement value for many of our items," Mize said. "We lost personal property, furniture, books and clothing. We lost about $15,000
worth of personal items, and they gave us about $7,800."
( Sorry Mrs. Mize --- the city
needs the money for "Tiny Town" --- and have to raise taxes !)
She said her house will now be worth less because they have to disclose to
potential buyers that it's been flooded with sewage, something she thinks she
ought to be compensated for.
So far, though, she doesn't think the city is doing enough to help and she's
bitter.
While Mize said she is saddened because her home was destroyed through no fault
of her own, she is further angered by what she sees as the city's lack of
concern.
On Aug. 9, Mize's issue was put on the agenda of the City Commission, but she
declined to show up at the meeting on the advice of her attorney. (Wonder
if the commissioners ever even looked at the damage?)
"They sent out a letter saying that a meeting had been scheduled in front of the
Commission, but we wanted a staff meeting where we could negotiate and talk,"
Mize said. "Instead, we'd only get three minutes at the dais and they'd vote on
it and we'd be done. That would have been a legal hearing because they're a
governing municipality. If they had ruled on it, it would have been law, and
we'd have had to go and file an appeal."
Mize has been told that the Florida League of Cities, Winter Springs' insurance
carrier, has a settlement offer prepared, but neither she nor her lawyer have
seen it yet, even though it was requested almost a month ago.
City Manager Ronald McLemore said that while he sympathizes with the Mize's
plight, he has to make sure that what the city does is right by the Winter
Springs taxpayers.
(
The money isn't for "Tiny Town" )
"Beyond that, though, it's in litigation. I can't discuss it," he said.
(The city attorney must
need some cash )
City Commissioner Michael Blake said the city still may meet with Mize and other
affected residents.
( Golly --- the City caused the problem, and none of the city officials have
even met with them ?)
"I don't believe there has been any change at all in the commissions' position
from the get-go," Blake said. "We were scheduled to have a meeting two weeks ago
and the other party's attorney postponed that. Since that time, I can't tell you
what has occurred."
( They're too busy with "Tiny Town" and raising taxes ---- don't have time for such "petty" matters. )
[
TV Coverage ] [
Homepage ]