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Resident urges printed stormwater plans and accuses city of misleading residents about ditches, lagoon impacts
Summary
At the start of the meeting Stan Johnston, a resident and engineer, told the committee a 1966 plan shows cross‑sections the city says it uses for ditches and canals but that Titusville has none of those features; staff confirmed the document was emailed and said the stormwater master plan is in budgeting. The committee scheduled further stormwater and desalination discussion for upcoming meetings.
A resident who identified himself as an engineer told the Titusville Technical and Environmental Committee that a 1966 cross‑section plan in the committee packet does not match observable drainage infrastructure in town and called the discrepancy evidence the city has "lied to us" about flood control and sustainability.
"We've been lied to for 60 years," Stan Johnston said during the public‑comment period, showing an 11-by-17 plate he said lists 16 cross sections that range from 70 to 170 feet wide. "Not one of them. Not one of them. The people that we have trusted have not done their job." Johnston urged the committee to receive a printed copy because, he said, the document is extensive and difficult to review in an emailed packet.
Chairman Majak and staff confirmed the packet had been emailed; staff member Lily said the new stormwater master plan is currently in the budgeting process. "So it's in work," Lily told the committee. Members asked staff to circulate materials in advance and to provide printed maps when documents are too large to view easily online.
The committee discussed follow‑up steps. Members requested that staff bring the stormwater master plan status and related maps to upcoming meetings and invited public‑works representation to discuss culvert maintenance, drainage areas beneath SR‑95, and whether FDOT or the city is responsible for cleaning specific ditches. "We need to try to figure out where we are — are we going to clean the ones underneath 95?" one member said.
The TEC also set future meeting topics (March 26: wetlands and brackish‑water desalination; later meetings will address stormwater management, brownfields and litter). Members highlighted concerns about septic systems and sewer expansion, saying the city lacks a program to move residents off septic systems to city sewer lines and noting treatment‑plant capacity questions for Blue Heron.
The committee did not take formal action on Johnston’s specific factual claim; staff agreed to provide larger printed materials and to coordinate a follow‑up discussion with public works and the city attorney as part of future agenda planning.
For the record: Johnston identified himself as Stan Johnston and described his professional background in engineering during his remarks. Staff (Lily) confirmed materials were emailed and said the stormwater master plan is in the budgeting process; no budget figures or timelines beyond that were provided in the meeting transcript.
