Growing Health and Environmental Concerns as City Fails to Address Long-Standing Wastewater System Issues For Immediate Release October 2, 2024–The City of Winter Springs has been hit with a $297,979 fine as part of a Consent Order issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), citing 24 violations in…
Catastrophic Water Plant Failure spills 383,000 gallons of water into environment
A Winter Springs wastewater plant undergoing maintenance in past years According to reports filed by the City of Winter Springs to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, a catastrophic failure occurred at a wastewater plant, releasing more than 383,000 gallons of water into the environment, affecting the ground and nearby…
Commission Candidate withdraws, citing city’s financial, budgeting and ethics concerns
Stephen Francis, who briefly announced his candidacy for the Winter Springs Commission, announced his intent to withdraw from the race, citing concerns with the city’s current financial state, budgeting practice, and general ethics concerns.
We cannot afford four more years of Commissioners Benton, Elliot and Johnson
With the cost of gasoline and groceries sky-high, and the City of Winter Springs taking more of our hard-earned property tax dollars, can you afford a 59% hike in trash service and more than doubling of your water bill? Can you afford the policies of Commissioners Benton, Elliot and Johnson?
Hydrant Failure: Winter Springs house fire reveals threat to public safety
By Jesse Phillips, PresidentWinter Springs Community Association Earlier today I read this shocking Oviedo Community News report: when a dryer caught fire in a Winter Springs home, fire crews could not attach to the fire hydrant because it had been poorly maintained by the city. Although the fire was controlled…
Brown water plagues expose fire hydrant maintenance failures
Resident Brandon Morrisey, who was removed from the Oak Forest Board for warning neighbors about brown water, speaks out again about public safety concerns.
BREAKING: More than 1,000 Winter Springs residents call for resignation of Mayor McCann, Commissioners Johnson, Benton and Elliot
An online petition being circulated calling for the resignation of Winter Springs’ Mayor Kevin McCann and Commissioners Matt Benton, Rob Elliot and Ted Johnson, has been signed by more than 1,000 residents. The petition cites nine causes related to recent investigations and audits, and has sustained momentum as the city downplayed the auditors’ findings and moved to drastically increase utility rates (trash and water).
Winter Springs water bills will more than DOUBLE over the next 5 years without a workable plan to fix our water utility
At last night’s Commission meeting, Winter Springs city leaders approved on first reading a plan to drastically increase our water without a workable plan to fix the systemic issues with our water system. Over the next five years, residents will be paying approximately twice as much for water as they…
Auditor: City broke the law in hiring Flint, Michigan water company & others
Summary: The recent audit of Winter Springs has unveiled significant irregularities in the City’s hiring of contractors, raising serious concerns about transparency, compliance with city laws, and the allocation of taxpayer funds. While these findings reflect a broader issue, there are two striking cases that demand closer scrutiny. Breaking the…
Auditor: A $10-12 million erosion of public trust
“Finding 3: The City’s use of consent agendas to revise the project list provided to the public in advance of the voter referendum approving the local government infrastructure sales surtax reduced transparency by depriving the opportunity for public information and discussion. In addition, the City did not provide for separate…