Dozens of District 1 residents told the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners that flooding after recent storms left homes and yards submerged and forced some families from their houses.

"This was my fifth phone call to your office," said Diane Nagle during public comment, describing water "a river in their backyard" and asking the board to place drainage fixes on an agenda. Several other residents gave first-hand accounts of interior flooding, damaged belongings and long-standing drainage problems in Westwood Villas, Kirby Drive and nearby neighborhoods.

County engineering and Roads & Bridges staff said the county has been responding where public easements and road infrastructure are involved but repeatedly told the board that "rear/side lot drainage are requirements of the homeowners to address," and that the department lacks the resources to fix private-lot drainage without board direction and funding. Staff reported they performed a maintenance project within the public easement and identified two capital drainage projects in the area: a Dixie Village project estimated at about $4,000,000 and a Westwood project estimated at about $2,000,000.

"We will continue to work with the board to figure out ways to find that money, and we'll also be submitting next year for state appropriations," a Roads & Bridges representative said, adding the county often needs a local match to secure state funds.

Commissioners and residents also discussed the role of artesian wells in raising local water tables. A representative of the St. Johns River Water Management District told the meeting the district operates a well-plugging program to assist homeowners and may cover plugging costs through its annual allocation. County staff cautioned that capping an artesian well can have unintended consequences and said staff would investigate whether the spring-fed lake in question is public or private and whether an outflow structure exists.

The exchange left residents urging quicker action. "We were told something would be done — nothing happened," one homeowner said, pressing the board to fund and prioritize older subdivisions that lack modern stormwater retention.

The commission did not adopt new funding at the meeting but heard repeated requests to add drainage work to upcoming budget and master drainage planning discussions, and commissioners said they would continue pursuing a combination of county maintenance, capital projects and potential state appropriations.