Residents press council on youth fields, floodplains and septic upgrades during public comment

During public comment at the May 5 Volusia County Council meeting, residents urged action on a range of local concerns including youth sports fields, development in floodplains and the cost of septic‑to‑sewer or nitrogen‑reducing septic upgrades.

Crystal Wells (DeLand Little League) said the volunteer nonprofit serves more than 640 children and expects over 700 this spring, and that lack of home fields forces teams to rent county fields—creating travel burdens and weekly out‑of‑pocket costs for volunteer coaches. "We are at a breaking point," she told the council.

Gregory Renzak (Crestwind DeLand) raised technical and environmental concerns about a proposed truck plaza on East New York Avenue, saying the site lies in a FEMA 100‑year floodplain with wetlands and sits above the Florida Aquifer; he argued heavy fill or elevated paving would degrade wetlands and could divert floodwaters toward adjacent residential communities.

Amy Munizzi (DeLeon Springs Community Association) disputed a council comment that upgrades to nitrogen‑reducing septic systems cost $40,000–$60,000, and summarized prior grant efforts by county staff to reduce homeowner costs, noting past FDEP grant approvals and recent awards that have provided rebates and assistance for some homeowners.

Why it matters: Public comment flagged locally sensitive development, water‑quality and recreation issues that feed into council agenda items and staff follow up. Several commenters asked the council to prioritize grants, partnerships and immediate relief (for example, field expansions and temporary turf fields) while longer‑term policy or purchases proceed.

What comes next: Staff later reported plans for near‑term construction of two turf fields and a longer‑term public‑private partnership pathway for a larger complex; council and staff acknowledged public concern about septic costs and referenced ongoing grant programs and departmental outreach.