PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — The Herald Court Center is a must-see in Punta Gorda.

However, businesses that use the city-owned building are still closed weeks after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“For business owners who were trying to survive, and this is our life, and our passion is business, hearing people say, ‘Maybe we’ll fix this next month,’ was everything just shocking and devastating,” said Dawn Viggiano, owner of The Refindery Market. .

Victoria Scott

Viggiano rents space outside the building.

She told FOX 4’s Victoria Scott the main reason she couldn’t reopen was because the city hadn’t opened its floodgates before Helene.

You can watch Victoria’s full report here:

Herald Court Center still closed weeks after hurricanes

“The result was two feet of water – dirty, murky water in our businesses,” she said.

So Victoria started asking questions of the city. She went to the deputy city manager to ask him about the floodgates.

“They weren’t installed before Hurricane Helene because we didn’t anticipate that this hurricane would be a direct hit,” said Melissa Reichert, Punta Gorda’s deputy city manager.

However, Viggiano said the valves are only part of the problem.

She told Scott she wasn’t happy that the city was still charging businesses rent. She also said there was virtually no communication from the city.

“Instead of them contacting us, we’re the ones pushing and demanding answers,” Viggiano said.

Viggiano thanks Victoria for her help.

“I feel like for us, Victoria, your help has been essential. I think it really made a difference for us to be able to move forward and be heard.

Viggiano said she began receiving quick responses from the city.

She and her husband asked for four months of rent reduction.

Reichert said those months will be discussed at the next council meeting.

“I believe we will have all the information we need for the next city council agenda. That will be November 20 at 9 a.m. at the Military Heritage Museum,” Reichert said.