ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orlando Utilities Commission shut off water services at the Tymber Skan condominiums Monday.
"We are taking everything out right now. The water is off. I don't know what is going on," said resident Otis McCall.
OUC terminated services for Sections 1 and 3 due to delinquent bills, officials said. The shutoff affected 200 units, all of which are about 30 percent occupied.
Residents were notified of the shutoff last month.
Each section's bill was close to $7,000.
Photos: Tymber Skan demolition
"I never had my own space. You see what I'm saying? I don't want to give it up. But if I have to go, have to go," said resident Deborah Williams.
Residents said forcing them to move out is unfair, despite the county providing them with a place to stay for 30 days and $2,300 to relocate.
"You are asking us to start over from nothing. You are asking us to walk away from our home, basically pushing us out. Once the water is off, then 15 days later it is condemned," said McCall.
Residents have dealt with their fair share of problems, including robberies, shootings, fires and code violations.
"I know sometimes it is hard to leave a place that you call home, but when your safety is at hand, there are children here, so we have to make sure that the children are safe," Orange County Commissioner Victoria Siplin said.
Taxpayers likely will be paying about $140,000 to demolish two more buildings at the complex because of serious code violations, officials said.
"We knew this day was coming, but it does not lessen the impact on my constituents in Tymber Skan. The tenants are left with the consequences of poor management and neglect by the individuals responsible for Tymber Skan properties," said Siplin.
Code enforcement said the large numbers of owners, liens and code violations have discouraged the few developers showing interest in the complex, so it's likely the county will tear down most of the 49 buildings.
"If we continue to hemorrhage money in this community, we have to deal with everybody else, and that is not fair to the rest of our customers," said OUC representative Tim Trudell.
There is still running water to fire hydrants in case of an emergency. There is also electricity to street lights for safety reasons.
As residents are moving out, Channel 9's Kathi Belich found a woman who said she moved in just two weeks ago, a week after OUC announced it would cut off water.
She said she was stunned to learn the water was being turned off.
Belich asked the real estate representative why the woman was allowed to move in when the water was scheduled to be turned off.
"The president of the association, he assured us that it would not be turned off, so it was relayed to them," Naipaul Seegolam said.
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