Cape residents still angry, frustrated following algae meeting with Army Corps of Engineers

In a packed room, dozens were forced to wait outside, but frustrations over the toxic blue-green algae were hard to miss.

Residents heard a lot of the plans from the Army Corps on what they’re doing to prevent this problem in the future, as well as why the releases are so necessary with the levels of Lake Okeechobee.

“We don’t mind water down here we don’t want bad water down here,” said Cape Coral resident Peter Formica.

WINK News first met Peter Formica earlier this month, when he hoped his pool net would put a dent in the toxic sludge in his backyard.

“We cannot go outside because of the stank and we don’t know the ill effects,” Formica said.

ALlso in Tuesday’s crowd was Joanne Kreise. The algae in her canal made her family so sick, they packed up and left.

“As of today we have the blue green algae again,” Kreise said. “We’re done we can’t go outside anymore.”

The meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours. It started with a presentation about the lake, but quickly turned to questions from the crowd.

Some answers were met with an unhappy audience.

The Army Corps of Engineers also admitted some questions they could not answer, and told neighbors to turn to the state.

But homeowners like Joanne Kreise want resolutions today.

“Come back to my house Gov. Scott, come to my house come down these canals to see what we’re all dealing with breathe the air we’re breathing,” Kreise said.

While you did hear some frustrating moments from that meeting, Mayor Joe Coviello told WINK News his takeaways were positive.

Coviello said he’s working with other local mayors Wednesday to hopefully finish their drafted letter to the White House asking for solutions.

The Army Corps of Engineers will hold several public meetings to discuss the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project.

Below is a schedule of public meetings scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Lee County Mosquito and Hyacinth Control Districts
15191 Homestead Road
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971

Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018
Indian River State College
Wolf High-Technology Center
2400 SE Salerno Road
Stuart, FL 34997

Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018
Indian River State College
Williamson Conference and Education Center
2229 NW 9th Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34972