LONGWOOD, Fla. — A Florida woman is facing a lawsuit and a notice of code violation after she filled a storm drain with concrete, causing a major flooding problem in her neighborhood, according to media outlets.
Diane Goglas sent her Shadow Bay neighbors a letter in March saying a drain pipe was installed on her property without her permission, according to Fox 35 Orlando. She reportedly told neighbors, "I advise you of this because once I close that pipe off, you will have a drain problem that will back up on the road and on your property."
"I filled in the two manholes and that broken pipe because I didn't want any more erosion on my property," Goglas told Fox 35.
WKMG-TV reported that Goglas sealed off the pipe in April with help from a crew. Since then, neighbors have voiced their concerns regarding flooding in the neighborhood.
“I have to walk it down the pavement on the sidewalk until I get to where it’s clear...” neighbor Sherry Graham told WKMG-TV. “Well, I hope she does face severe consequences. All of this water, it’s full of mosquitoes, and we’ve got a mosquito problem now.”
Court records obtained by Fox 35 show Shadow Bay's HOA filed a lawsuit against Goglas, telling the media outlet that the flooding "presents a clear threat to life and safety."
On top of this, Seminole County also sent Goglas a notice of code violation, according to Fox 35.
County officials reportedly said Goglas has to remove the concrete and repair the existing stormwater pipe and drainage fixtures. If she doesn't comply, Goglas could face fines of up to $300 daily, the TV station reported.
