County sued for not maintaining roads

DEERLAND — A lawsuit was filed last week alleging Okaloosa County has been negligent in maintaining county-owned roads for years.

Cornerstone Construction and Development, which owns several lots in different subdivisions in Deerland, filed the lawsuit April 2 against the county.

The lawsuit states the county and Fidelity Southern Development Corporation, the original developer of Triple Lakes, Magnolia Blossom and The Pines subdivisions, reached an agreement in 1968 that the developers would construct the subdivisions’ dirt and clay roads and the county would then maintain them.

To see a copy of the lawsuit, click here .

Mike McClard, who owns some homes in the area, said the county’s dereliction of duty in maintaining the roadways the past 20 years has led to public health issues and is taking away from the quality of life there.

“We have begged and pleaded and begged and pleaded for them to do what they’re supposed to,” McClard said. “This is what it’s come to.”

The lawsuit seeks to have the county pay for the improvements to the roadways around the Triple Lakes, Magnolia Blossom and The Pines subdivisions. It also calls for the county to pay all legal fees and an undisclosed amount for loss of profits caused by the damaged road.