Cocoa residents expose water department fraud and demand legal action

The Cocoa City Council convened on May 13, 2025, to address several pressing issues affecting the community, including allegations of misconduct within the city's water department and amendments to sewer policies.

The meeting began with a public comment from a resident who accused city officials, specifically Lisa and Laura from the water department, of theft and fraud against senior citizens. The speaker claimed that water meters were not being read accurately, leading to inflated bills. He asserted that he had video evidence and intended to pursue legal action, demanding a response from the city attorney within ten days. He emphasized that he had gathered support from other residents facing similar issues, suggesting a potential class action lawsuit.

Following this, another resident, Linda Dolphin, requested amendments to the minutes from a previous meeting regarding the Cocoa sewer project. She argued that key information about the cost-sharing agreement for sewer connections was omitted. Dolphin highlighted that homeowners were only required to pay 40% of their sewer costs if they connected, contrary to what was presented during the vote. She urged the council to ensure that accurate details were included in the official records, particularly regarding the permitting timeline discussed by the city manager.

The council then moved on to the consent agenda, which was approved unanimously. This was followed by a public hearing on an ordinance aimed at updating the city's mandatory sewer hookup policy. The ordinance seeks to provide clearer guidelines for sewer system connections, particularly in light of expansion projects and the conversion of septic systems to sewer systems.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the council to consider the feedback from residents and ensure transparency in future discussions and documentation. The council's next steps will involve reviewing the proposed ordinance and addressing the concerns raised by the public during the meeting.