Solution or drainage ditches in Oldsmar bogs down in controversy

By Danielle Paquette

OLDSMAR — Some residents of Phoenix Avenue and Shore Boulevard say their neighborhood of high-end homes remains a swamp for days after heavy rains.

"The saturated lawns attract water moccasins," said Rayanne Strauss, a retired teacher who has lived on the 1700 block of Phoenix Avenue for 30 years. The water, she said, "has gotten to be hip-deep."

After Tropical Storm Debby flooded her garage for nearly a week in late June, Strauss called Pinellas County for help, since her neighborhood is in unincorporated West Oldsmar. But little has been done since then, according to both Strauss and county officials.

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