LAKELAND, Fla. — Owners of a Lakeland mechanic shop are calling on the city for help after heavy rain flooded their property Thursday.
In a video gaining attention on social media, Twin Diesel Performance owners David and Daniel Goodwald were visibly in shock when they returned to find several inches of water on their property Thursday afternoon.
“What are we going to do when a hurricane comes through if this is what a thunderstorm does?” Daniel said in the video.
Since then, the brothers have been clearing debris and rescheduling customers.
“Unfortunately, rescheduling them for next week,” David said. “The fact that these people have to wait even longer, I don’t feel good about that.”
David said this has happened only twice before since they opened the shop on West Memorial Boulevard in 2015.
“For certain, this issue did not start until Bonnet Springs Park was completed,” he said.
The brothers said runoff from the surrounding area makes its way to the storm drain behind the building. Daniel said city crews repaired the drainage system last year after they made several phone calls. He said they did not have any more problems until this week’s storm.
“Water was all the way to this level right here, and it wasn’t draining,” Daniel said.
Lakeland city officials were contacted about the owners’ drainage concerns. In a statement, a spokesperson said:
“The City of Lakeland is aware of the flooding that impacted Twin Diesel Performance and the surrounding area during yesterday’s heavy rainfall. City staff from the Public Works Department visited the location yesterday and today to determine what factors contributed to the flooding. Staff found no drainage blockages in the storm pipe system. City staff will continue working with the business owner to improve the understanding of what occurred and identify any appropriate next steps.”
David and Daniel say they hope help comes soon. Otherwise, they worry that the flooding will hurt their business.
“I can’t continue to conduct my business in a honest manner or support the livelihood of my employees without a solid foundation,” David said. “And we’re just reaching out to see if our officials can give us the solid foundation, resolution on this issue.”
