by James Coulter
Residents along Tillman Avenue won’t have to worry about their cars floating away during heavy rainfall now that Lake Wales has approved slip-lining the road’s stormwater pipe.
At their regular meeting on Tues. Dec. 2, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve their consent agenda, which included an item authorizing the slip-lining of the stormwater pipe along Tillman Avenue for $39,900.
Recently, Tillman Avenue has experienced repeated flooding during heavy rain due to the pipe’s “significant deterioration and partial blockage,” which has left standing water deep enough to shift or float parked vehicles.
“Out of caution, staff deferred resurfacing this roadway segment until the drainage system could be repaired,” wrote Nancy C. Hernandez, Public Works Operations Manager. “Slip-lining is recommended as the most efficient and least disruptive method to restore system functionality without full pipe replacement.”
Evans & Lyles submitted a proposal for the repairs. Currently, the public works department has hired a contractor to perform televise-and-clean operations. After which, slip-lining will commence.
Commissioners had the option not to approve the authorization for slip-lining. However, delaying the repair would have allowed conditions to worsen, prolonging flood risk for residents and further postponing the planned resurfacing.
