Help Me Howard: Obstructed Waterway

WSVN--If you love boats... Odds are you love living in South Florida.

Bill Thomaston: "Great for doing the intercoastal. Going out to the lovely restaurants on the new river."

Bill has a 26-foot sports cruiser and bought his house on the water to make it easy to use the boat.

Bill Thomaston: "The water. Access to the ocean with no fixed bridges. This is a boating community back here."

His neighbor Rob also is a boater.

Rob: "We go out about once or twice a month."

But since Wilma roared through their boats have been rooted to the dock, and not only are they landlocked... they're limblocked..

Bill Thomaston: "As you can see the branches are falling into the canal. And it's blocking us."

Most of the branches come from a giant ficus that fell in.

Rob: "The canal is anywhere from seven to eight-foot deep. We have no idea how deep the obstruction is in the middle of the canal. We know for sure we can't get out."

Rob: "We're afraid if we try to get out we're going to get tangled up in it."

Both neighbors have called the city of Fort Lauderdale.

Bill Thomaston: "It's their responsibility to keep the waterways clean."

Rob: "We all made phone calls, and tried to go through the appropriate channels, but really have felt like we weren't seeing any action."

And speaking of action, the inaction is not good for the boats.

Rob: "Sitting is the worst thing you can do to a boat."

But who is required to clear the waterways? And are they under any deadline? To find out they called the people known as Help Me Howard.

Howard Finkelstein, 7 News Legal Expert: "Different waterways are under the controls of various government agencies. To find out call the city and ask them who is responsible. As for the time frame to clear it up... I know people hate this answer -- but the law says 'a reasonable amount of time', and after a hurricane the law will give them alot of latitude."

When we talked to the city of Fort Lauderdale the news was not good.

They told us they dont budget money for clean-up -- they depend on the federal government to foot the bill.

But after agreeing to pay to clean up 400 sites, FEMA has closed their checkbooks and cut of funding for other canals.

The city told us they are now applying to other federal agencies for help.

When we asked what they would do if no money is approved, we were told we 're hoping that won't happen.

If it does, Howard says the city is has to find a way to clear the canals.

Howard Finklestein: "It's simple... if they can't get someone else to pay for it, they have to find a way to pay for it. Which means the taxpayers of Ft. Lauderdale have to pay for it."

Of course that could take months...Which is not what these boaters wanna be told.

Bill Thomaston: "It gets depressing, just to hear the engine's roar, and we can't move it."

Patrick Fraser: "And here is a question we got: since they live on the water, their property tax bills are alot higher -- but they can't use the water. So can they ask the city of Ft. Lauderdale to give them a break on their taxes? Howard says its a great idea and he bets the city would say, forget about it."

A problem got you ready to jump overboard? Hang on, You're not sunk. Let us paddle over to you And try to be a real life preserver. With this Help Me Howard, I'm Patrick Fraser, Seven News.

Contact: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
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