During a recent city council meeting in Temple Terrace, community members voiced their concerns regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, particularly focusing on power restoration and neighborhood disparities. Mead Lewis, chairman of the River Watch Task Force, expressed gratitude for the support he received while volunteering to maintain the city's natural beauty and water quality.

The council unanimously approved Lewis's appointment to the River Watch Task Force, highlighting the importance of community involvement in local initiatives. Following this, the council reviewed and adopted the minutes from their previous meeting.

Public comments were a significant part of the meeting, with residents sharing their experiences post-hurricane. Charles Loeb criticized TECO's response to power outages, arguing that the utility company was negligent in its restoration efforts compared to other providers. He emphasized the need for better infrastructure, such as underground wiring, to prevent prolonged outages during storms.

Michelle Whitmire, a resident of the Bonnie Brae Neighborhood, reported extensive damage from fallen trees and power lines in her area, noting that many residents remained without power while the local golf course was operational. She called for equitable treatment of neighborhoods during recovery efforts.

Another resident, who identified himself as Mr. Booth, shared a personal account of significant damage to his home caused by an unlicensed contractor cutting down a tree. He raised concerns about permitting processes and the need for stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In response to the public's frustrations, the council clarified that TECO had mobilized a record number of linemen prior to the hurricane, indicating that the scale of the outages was unprecedented. The council assured residents that efforts were underway to restore power as quickly as possible, with projections suggesting that most residents would have their electricity restored within a week.

The meeting underscored the community's resilience and the ongoing challenges faced in the wake of the hurricane, as residents called for improved infrastructure and more equitable recovery efforts.