Palm Beach Gardens homeowner pushes for fix to rusted culvert

Resident has spent over a year trying to get the deteriorating structure repaired as officials debate responsibility.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A Palm Beach Gardens homeowner, Bruce Honig, has been trying for more than a year to get a rusted culvert in his neighborhood lake repaired. Despite raising concerns about the safety hazard and appearing before the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District board multiple times, the issue of who is responsible for the culvert remains unresolved. The board has now approved $6,800 to clean and inspect the culvert, which Honig sees as an encouraging first step.

Why it matters

The rusted culvert poses a potential safety risk to residents, especially children, if someone were to step on it and get injured. The ongoing debate over responsibility for the structure highlights the challenges homeowners can face in getting local authorities to address infrastructure issues in their neighborhoods.

The details

The rusted culvert is located in the Shady Lakes neighborhood of Palm Beach Gardens and sits in one of the community's lakes. Honig first raised concerns about the deteriorating structure over a year ago, warning that someone could get seriously hurt if they stepped on it. Despite Honig's repeated pleas to the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District board, the issue of who is responsible for the culvert - the board, the Homeowners Association, or the original developer - remains unresolved. However, the board has now approved a $6,800 expense to clean and inspect the culvert, which Honig sees as an encouraging first step towards resolving the problem.

  • Honig first raised concerns about the deteriorating culvert over a year ago.
  • Honig has appeared before the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District board three times to plead for help.
  • The board approved a $6,800 expense to clean and inspect the culvert in January 2026.

The players

Bruce Honig

A Palm Beach Gardens homeowner who has been pushing for the rusted culvert in his neighborhood lake to be repaired.

Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

The local government agency that has jurisdiction over the lakes in the Shady Lakes neighborhood, including the one with the rusted culvert.

Shady Lakes Homeowners Association

The homeowners association for the Shady Lakes neighborhood, which may be responsible for the culvert according to some documents.

Brian LaMotte

A current board member of the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District who acknowledged the ownership of the culvert remains unresolved.

City of Palm Beach Gardens

The local city government that may be involved in a cost-sharing agreement for any future repair work on the culvert.

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What they’re saying

“If you put your foot on it, or if a kid puts his foot in the wrong spot, he could get really hurt.”

— Bruce Honig (wptv.com)

“Frustrated? Yes, very frustrated.”

— Bruce Honig (wptv.com)

“Looks pretty black and white to me, I'm just a homeowner though.”

— Bruce Honig (wptv.com)

“Looking at the documents, we're to the point where it doesn't appear to fall on anybody's shoulders.”

— Brian LaMotte, Board Member, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District (wptv.com)

“It's a starting point. They've recognized that there's a problem. They've hopefully recognized it's a dangerous problem, and they want to rectify it.”

— Bruce Honig (wptv.com)

What’s next

The Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District board said it may pursue a cost-sharing agreement between itself, the Homeowners Association, and either the City of Palm Beach Gardens or the original developer for any future repair work on the culvert.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges homeowners can face in getting local authorities to address infrastructure issues in their neighborhoods, even when the safety of residents is at risk. The ongoing debate over responsibility for the rusted culvert underscores the need for clear ownership and maintenance agreements for community assets to prevent such prolonged disputes.