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Matlacha community issues evictions as area is ‘no longer safe for habitation’

A Matlacha community is now issuing eviction notices just two weeks after promising people living there that they wouldn’t force anyone out after Hurricane Ian. 

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Matlacha community issues evictions as area is ‘no longer safe for habitation’

A Matlacha community is now issuing eviction notices just two weeks after promising people living there that they wouldn’t force anyone out after Hurricane Ian. 

MATLACHA, Fla. — A Matlacha community is now issuing eviction notices just two weeks after promising people living there that they wouldn’t force anyone out after Hurricane Ian.  The management at Dolphins Resort ordered two residents to vacate their homes, citing that “the property is no longer safe for habitation.”  PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Matlacha community deemed “uninhabitable” by property manager, residents disagree It’s a change of direction for the community that sent a letter to residents on October 31, saying, “during this time, the parks will not be evicting any legal residents.”  “They’re giving me seven days to move out? That’s insane,” said Richie Logan, who’s one of the two being forced to move out.  Logan, along with his neighbor, Jonathan Brooks, have less than two weeks to vacate their homes on the second floor of a building at the front of the Dolphins Resort.  “This is my life,” said Brooks. “Fifteen days is not fair.” The management cited in his eviction that the property “is no longer safe for habitation.” He has until the end of November to move or else he’ll be penalized.  Gage: “Even if you wanted to leave, could you find another place in 15 days?” Jonathan: “No. Possible, possible.” Logan has less time to move out. The management gave him just seven days to move out. “Within seven days,” he said. “First of all, I’m 64 years old, I’m disabled, and I’m a veteran. And they want me out in seven days?” In Logan’s eviction notice, the management said he “acted aggressively to resort employees.”  “That’s not true,” Logan said. “I’ve never said a derogatory word to her ever.” To make matters worse, the water at the Dolphins Resort was turned off again on Monday. Directed by the management, the Pine Island Water Association disconnected the service and removed the meter.  The building now gets running water through a garden hose from another property.   “It’s just not right,” Logan said.  Gage: “Are you going to move out?” Richie: “Hell no. Hell no.” Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane said he wants to help. On Tuesday, he met with Pine Island Water, who said they’re willing to connect services via above-ground piping to ensure that all residents have access to drinking water.  “They said they would do everything in their power to get water restored to the people,” Commissioner Ruane said  When it comes to evictions, the commissioner said he doesn’t have much power, but he did share some thoughts.  “I can’t imagine that a judge is going to put these people out on the street. I mean, I just have a hard time believing that.” Ruane serves as the county commission’s liaison to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). He said in this role, he certainly won’t be sending deputies out to evict people. “I’m not certainly going to send the sheriffs to go evict them. That’s not me. No way. Not during this hardship. Nuh-uh.” If push comes to shove, there is an alternative plan. The county is expecting to receive temporary housing trailers from FEMA for all of those impacted by Hurricane Ian.  “Plan B is certainly that the governor has indicated that we’ll have 10,000 units,” said Commissioner Ruane. “We’re trying to obviously find where we’re going to put them as soon as we get a thousand of them. The last thing I want to do is see anyone not have a place to call home. I’ll make sure they have a place to put their head at night.” While neither Brooks nor Legan have plans to leave when their time comes, the fear is that they won’t be the only ones evicted.  “I believe that everybody will get it; it’s just the beginning of the end,” said Todd Victor, who also lives in Dolphins Resort.  ABC7 made multiple calls to both the property management and their attorneys requesting comment for this story. Our calls weren’t returned. 

MATLACHA, Fla. — A Matlacha community is now issuing eviction notices just two weeks after promising people living there that they wouldn’t force anyone out after Hurricane Ian. 

The management at Dolphins Resort ordered two residents to vacate their homes, citing that “the property is no longer safe for habitation.” 

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Matlacha community deemed “uninhabitable” by property manager, residents disagree

It’s a change of direction for the community that sent a letter to residents on October 31, saying, “during this time, the parks will not be evicting any legal residents.” 

“They’re giving me seven days to move out? That’s insane,” said Richie Logan, who’s one of the two being forced to move out. 

Logan, along with his neighbor, Jonathan Brooks, have less than two weeks to vacate their homes on the second floor of a building at the front of the Dolphins Resort. 

“This is my life,” said Brooks. “Fifteen days is not fair.”

The management cited in his eviction that the property “is no longer safe for habitation.” He has until the end of November to move or else he’ll be penalized. 

Gage: “Even if you wanted to leave, could you find another place in 15 days?”

Jonathan: “No. Possible, possible.”

Logan has less time to move out. The management gave him just seven days to move out.

“Within seven days,” he said. “First of all, I’m 64 years old, I’m disabled, and I’m a veteran. And they want me out in seven days?”

In Logan’s eviction notice, the management said he “acted aggressively to resort employees.” 

“That’s not true,” Logan said. “I’ve never said a derogatory word to her ever.”

To make matters worse, the water at the Dolphins Resort was turned off again on Monday. Directed by the management, the Pine Island Water Association disconnected the service and removed the meter. 

The building now gets running water through a garden hose from another property.  

“It’s just not right,” Logan said. 

Gage: “Are you going to move out?”

Richie: “Hell no. Hell no.”

Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane said he wants to help. On Tuesday, he met with Pine Island Water, who said they’re willing to connect services via above-ground piping to ensure that all residents have access to drinking water. 

“They said they would do everything in their power to get water restored to the people,” Commissioner Ruane said 

When it comes to evictions, the commissioner said he doesn’t have much power, but he did share some thoughts. 

“I can’t imagine that a judge is going to put these people out on the street. I mean, I just have a hard time believing that.”

Ruane serves as the county commission’s liaison to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). He said in this role, he certainly won’t be sending deputies out to evict people.

“I’m not certainly going to send the sheriffs to go evict them. That’s not me. No way. Not during this hardship. Nuh-uh.”

If push comes to shove, there is an alternative plan. The county is expecting to receive temporary housing trailers from FEMA for all of those impacted by Hurricane Ian. 

“Plan B is certainly that the governor has indicated that we’ll have 10,000 units,” said Commissioner Ruane. “We’re trying to obviously find where we’re going to put them as soon as we get a thousand of them. The last thing I want to do is see anyone not have a place to call home. I’ll make sure they have a place to put their head at night.”

While neither Brooks nor Legan have plans to leave when their time comes, the fear is that they won’t be the only ones evicted. 

“I believe that everybody will get it; it’s just the beginning of the end,” said Todd Victor, who also lives in Dolphins Resort. 

ABC7 made multiple calls to both the property management and their attorneys requesting comment for this story. Our calls weren’t returned.