Matlacha woman fights 2 years to fix Ian damage; WINK News gets results

MATLACHA, Fla. (WINK) — Dozens of damaged utility relays left behind by Hurricane Ian have been removed from the streets of Matlacha after a resident turned to WINK Listens for help.

Island resident Carol Scott had been working for close to two years to get the damaged relays removed. She compiled an extensive list of damaged boxes from all over the island and started making calls.

"These relays are rusted out and no longer functioning," Scott said.

"There have been people, homeowners, who have gone out there and cut those wires themselves, so I don't know if that's permitted, but it's not a good idea," Scott said. "We would like to see covers put back on them, or have them pulled out or filled in."

Scott reached out to Lumen in December and was told that the company needed FCC approval to remove the relays. When she contacted the FCC, they said they had never heard of any such requirement.

"The FCC said that they had never heard of any such legislation or ruling or anything that was their responsibility," Scott said.

She also contacted Lee DOT because the wires are in the right-of-way. Lee DOT told her she was the second person to call within a week about the issue.

Getting nowhere with her efforts, Scott turned to WINK Listens. WINK News made calls, sent emails and pictures, and Lumen crews finally showed up to make repairs.

Scott described her reaction upon seeing crews working along Island and Bridgeview. "Stop! I want to take a look at what they're doing," Scott said. "And they had a small, like I said, a little bucket truck or a backhoe, and it was a fork that was lifting the units, the relays, right out of the ground that fast."

Damaged relays were also removed from Clyde Street and Bayshore Drive. Dozens of damaged relays all over the island are now gone.

"Well, if it wasn't for Wink Listens, this wouldn't have been done," Scott said. "I feel like I was not getting traction, and I was making the phone calls to the right people, but nothing was getting done. So you, Lois, has really helped us with this with this issue on our island. You're an island angel.