- February 4, 2025
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A disabled veteran and his wife were displaced from their home after a water main break occurred on Sept. 16 on Spruce Creek Road.
Residents living on Spruce Creek Road starting from Taylor Road South were advised to boil their water after the break, but water flooded James and Grace Lang's home as the city made repairs.
City manager Jake Johansson updated City Council at a special meeting and workshop on Oct. 23 about how the city is helping the Langs.
He said investigations have not found a cause for the lateral break, but breaks often occur because of stress or pressure. The plastic pipe originally sat on coquina rock, which was removed and replaced by sand in the event that the coquina caused the pipe to break, he said.
Johansson also the city's insurance and the Lang's homeowners insurance will not pay for damages.
The city continues to pay for temporary housing for the Langs, who may be displaced from their home for about two months, and mold mitigation and repairs to the pool and home are ongoing. Johansson said the city is not claiming responsibility, but helping them is the right thing to do.
"These folks are without a home and without a place to stay," he said.
Mayor Don Burnette said council will not approve or review any emergency funding measures until it meets on Nov. 13, but agreed that the city should continue to help the Langs.
"It was our water system and our water main break, and just because there is some doubt about validity from a legal standpoint, it shouldn't stop us from doing the right thing," he said.
Councilmen Chase Tramont and Bob Ford said they visited the house and saw the damage. Tramont said he's glad the city is stepping up to help when insurers did not.
"I'm floored that the insurance companies found a way to not take responsibility or do their part in this," he said.
Councilmen Scott Stiltner and Drew Bastian also agreed, and Stiltner said his only concern is making repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Johansson assured City Council that they are working with contractors to find the best value for repairs.
