Residents in the Wildcat Drive community are still dealing with high-standing waters left behind from Tropical Storm Debby.
The usual dirt road is now muddy and bumpy from the pits that have formed and filled with water.
"It is absolutely, at this point, a drainage issue. If we get drainage in here to alleviate 80% of the problem,” Sean Burlarley, a Wildcat Drive resident, said.
We're told some people were stuck in their homes and are searching for their missing pets.
“I can't even get in. That's why he's meeting me with my mail. Because I can't even get in. In the back way. You can't get in either unless you know the roads you're not getting in,” Pat Kopfhamer, who lives on Wildcat Drive, said.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office drove in their swamp buggy to that area Tuesday to help out residents in need, passing out waters and checking on neighbors.
"All the first responders have been really good. We've talked to the fire department and the police and they've been very, very helpful,” Burlarley said. "Outreach is probably the best thing right now. Getting it known to where, if there's grants or something available and they don't know how to get it to us, so we can get some assistance. Or, I suppose, if anybody's got big equipment, right? If somebody got the call, like a great wall or something where we can try to get this ditch dug, that would really be awesome."
Wildcat Drive is a privately owned road, but I did reach out to Lee County to see if there's anything they can do to get residents some help. This is what I received back:
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Florida law prohibits using taxpayer money for the benefit of private citizens where there is no public purpose.
- Wildcat Drive is a private road. The county is prohibited by state law to conduct work on a privately maintained road using taxpayer dollars.
- The county’s duty is to ensure a road is passable for emergency vehicles to respond to residents in need.
- The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District was on-site immediately following the recent rains and deemed the road passable. The district continues to monitor today and is reassuring residents that their first responders can access the residents’ homes.
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Lee County staff and officials have been in contact with residents about steps they could take to ensure the road is paved. A number of recent discussions have occurred.
- This includes conversations with county staff in the Department of Transportation, Natural Resources and Public Safety. County Administration also has met with residents.
- The county has provided information to residents on Wildcat Drive annually for each of the last three years.
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The good news is that there is something these neighbors can do about their situation.
- One option that is available is the county’s MSTU program. If more than 50% of the residents along the road approve it, they can hire the county as the contractor and pay for the repairs/construction through their property taxes. (MSTU stands for Municipal Services Taxing / Benefit Unit.)
- Essentially, as landowners on a private road in unincorporated Lee County, residents can work together to maintain their private road.
- It’s not uncommon for communities in unincorporated Lee County to assess themselves in order to maintain their own roads. It’s typical, for example, in private communities with private roads. It’s also typical in communities with non-county-maintained roads.
- More information is available at www.leegov.com/budget/mstbu .