Cape Coral utility project forces residents to pay thousands or move

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)—The Cape Coral City Council decided whether to accept a $1.3 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the city's utility expansion project.

The long-term utility expansion project is designed to fix Cape Coral's well water problem. The average cost for the land assessment is around $26,000, according to the city.

Eugenio Feliciano has called his street home since 1988. The 85-year-old faces a $28,000 city assessment.

"The city owes me $28,000," Feliciano said.

Adding the pump and safety tank brings the total cost to $34,000 for Feliciano.

"I'm talking about fixed income, which I can't go to work," he said.

The city offers a hardship deferral program and utility connection grant to help eligible residents pay for their assessments. However, Feliciano said the price is more than he can afford.

"Sent in $17,000 and the rest, I'm just gonna have to wait until I sell the house or I die," he said.

The project aims to improve water quality, infrastructure, and reliability in northeast Cape Coral. While homeowners face steep assessment costs, renters will see higher water bills.

Theresa Foskey rents in the construction zone.

"You're never sure how much more you're going to have to come up with at the end of the month," Foskey said.

Foskey plans to move before her rental property is connected to the new system.

"I don't want another bill. And as a matter of fact, we're looking to move out of this house before we get connected, because I don't want another bill," she said.

The grant would fund contracts for catch basin modifications as part of the expansion project.