A sewage pipe problem is causing a big stink in St. Cloud, where dozens of residents said they're fed up after waiting almost an entire year to find out if the sewage pipes in their complex will get fixed.
"They keep saying they are going to fix it — they are going to fix it — but nothing happens," said Maria Ortiz, who lives at the Palm Gardens Condominiums.
For almost a year, Ortiz and her neighbors have been dealing with pools of overflowing sewage invading their parking lot.
"This is a sewage problem where people are walking around, picking feces off the ground," said Sulyn Davis-Torres. "People are getting sick over this. Or is this going to get fixed?"
Residents said when it rains, they see puddles of sewage throughout the parking lot.
"Nothing has been done," Torres said. "It's been a joke, quite honestly."
In February, the city of St. Cloud said it planned to start work in March to fix the problem, but residents say nothing has changed.
A city spokesperson said the entire sewage system throughout the complex needs to be replaced. City staff estimated that could cost about $400,000–$430,000.
The spokesperson said the city would have to hire an outside contractor to do the work. Over the last few months, only one contracting company has said it would take the job, but that contractor wanted to charge much more than the city's estimate.
The city said it would have to reject the contractor's bid, because it was too much. Now, city leaders said they will work to find a new contractor.
City officials said those living at Palm Gardens will now have to wait until late June before the city makes a decision on which contractor will be responsible for fixing the sewage problem.
Meanwhile, residents said they are tired of waiting and dealing with the sewage, now for even longer.
"I would hope that the city would help us, as a low-income community, solve this problem," said Torres.