Casselberry to repair drainage ditches damaged by Milton

CASSELBERRY, Fla. — Two years after Hurricane Milton, Casselberry is moving forward with repairs to two drainage ditches damaged by the storm.

The project will address erosion and debris buildup in the Gee Creek drainage basin, next to The Palms at Casselberry and 190 S. Triplet Lake Drive.

For Lex Kovacs, co-owner of D’Angelo’s Land Services, Milton brings back memories of helping people navigate blocked roads and remove trees from their homes.

“So what we did is we started by just clearing the roads for free in neighborhoods, just so that homeowners could get to the grocery store and get gas,” Kovacs said.

As his crews worked through neighborhoods, Kovacs said they found trees on houses and received calls from residents needing help.

One situation in Casselberry involved a large oak tree that had snapped and become caught in another tree. Kovacs said it threatened a nearby home.

“It was a really dangerous situation, we had to go get a crane to go and lift the trees actually out of the other trees and get them away,” he said.

Milton also caused significant erosion and debris accumulation in the two ditches now slated for repairs, according to the city. Public Works staff identified the damage after the storm.

The city said continued erosion could affect the drainage system’s stability and function, potentially putting public and private property at risk during another major storm.

Casselberry worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to survey the damage. The resulting report identified erosion problems, debris-removal needs, recommended repairs and estimated costs.

The project will repair the eroded areas and remove accumulated debris to help maintain the drainage system’s effectiveness and reduce the potential for additional damage.

The city said assessment, design and contractor selection are complete, and the project is moving into the construction phase. Completion is expected in February 2027.

The construction award is $604,430.50 for both locations with a total budget of $634,462.00 including contingency.

According to the city, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will reimburse the project at 100% upon completion.

Kovacs also encouraged residents to have an arborist evaluate trees around their homes and businesses for structural problems that could become dangerous during strong winds or heavy rain.