Still feeling like their water-related concerns are going in one ear and out the other, a group of Deltona residents are turning to Tallahassee for help.
A couple dozen residents showed up at City Hall one day last week to notify the city of their intent to seek a state audit of Deltona Water.
Dana McCool, one of the residents leading the charge, said she's seen what state audits can do.
"We know what we're asking for," McCool said.
Deltona and its water department have been the subject of scrutiny by multiple residents who say they've received high water bills without explanation.
"All of the time, more people are speaking," McCool said. "We're building our case."
As part of the process to get a state audit, McCool said residents are working on a petition for which they need at least 15,000 signatures.
City Manager Jane Shang and Matt Doan, director of public works and utilities, didn't directly respond Monday to a request for comment.
After receiving Shang's approval, city spokesman Lee Lopez on Tuesday issued a statement: "The City of Deltona undergoes an independent audit each year which includes all city departments as well as Deltona Water. Annual audits are required to comply with state law, accounting standards and grant regulations."
On the audit for fiscal year 2016-2017, conducted by Purvis, Gray and Company, LLP, the city "received an unmodified, or "clean," opinion on its financial statements," according to the statement. "Additionally, a report on compliance required by the "Rules of the Auditor General" reported no material weaknesses over internal control or noncompliance."
Deltona uses a rate consultant to "model and review the Deltona Water rates annually," per the statement. "The analysis is consistent with national and local methodologies and meets the reasonableness standard required by Florida Statutes. Rates include a tiered conservation structure required by the (St. Johns River Water Management District), which was necessary to obtain a consumptive use permit."
During a public forum on water last month, about 70 residents showed up. They were told how to make payments, read their meters and check for leaks. There also were Deltona Water staffers on hand with computers to review statements with concerned customers.
Doan said during the forum that residents should reach out, because if the water department doesn't know about the problem it can't act.
Whether it was at the forum or via social media, multiple residents have said they've seen spikes in their bills, which they say are unexplained, that return to a more typical number in the next billing cycle.
McCool said she hopes an audit would open the door for civil suits.
"People have to have some recourse," McCool said.
She said her issue has been that Deltona officials don't seem interested in validating the concerns of residents or listening to them with an open mind.
Last month, McCool and Troy Shimkus, who has since filed to run for mayor, began working on a survey to collect data on residents' experience with Deltona Water.
Shimkus, who works with data in his daily job, said accumulating such information could help them figure out if there is a problem and what it is.
"It's very difficult to figure out where the complexities or problems might be lying, so I think the audit would have the ability to open things up more than the city has been willing to do so far," Shimkus said. "I think the citizens are really doing what they feel they have to based on a lack of substantial response from the city, but it's not too late for the city to say 'before we go down this road, let's try something else.'"
The residents have posted more information about their effort at Deltonastrong.org.