Residents, homeowners urge city action after repeated neighborhood flooding

Kalamazoo — Two residents told the City Commission on April 7 that their neighborhoods experienced repeated flooding during recent storms and urged the city to clear storm drains and consider targeted infrastructure work.

A recurring complaint focused on ponding and yard flooding that residents say is caused by blocked or insufficient street drains. One resident who did not give a name told commissioners, “We just flooded on Wednesday for the second time this year. 1.38 inches, you’ll see that paper, will tell all the streets that are affected by your storm drains … I had to leave my house on Wednesday.” She said flooding has forced repeated furnace replacements and that nearby city yard grading diverts water toward private backyards.

Michael Cleggs Arnott, who identified himself as living at 1829 Miller Road, said his home is repeatedly cut off by flowing water and that his basement where his mother sleeps has flooded. “We do not live in a flood zone, to my knowledge, and none of our neighbors’ properties collect water like ours does,” Arnott said. He told the commission he and his husband cleaned at least 15 clogged drains the prior weekend and that many drains contained heavy root blockages.

Arnott asked the city to consider installing a curb and drain at his location and to inspect and clear drains across neighborhoods he described as similarly affected. He said his sump pump failed during a recent five-day power outage and warned that continued flooding will make the lower half of his home uninhabitable.

What the record shows: Speakers reported localized flooding after roughly 1.38 inches of recent rain, repeated incidents this year, clogged drains (residents said they cleared at least 15 drains on one weekend) and power-outage-related sump pump failures. Residents asked for targeted fixes such as curb-and-drain installations and sweeping/clearing of root-filled drains.

City response and next steps: The April 7 meeting record captured public comment but did not include a staff presentation or a formal vote on a drainage-response plan. City staff listed routine spring cleanup programs and brush/yard-waste collections in a later staff report, and the city manager mentioned upcoming brush collection and free bulk trash drop-off dates; no timeline for prioritized drain-clearing was provided on the record at this meeting.

Why it matters: Repeated, localized flooding can cause property damage, mold and repeated housing costs, and residents said the issue affects quality of life and safety for people who must leave homes during storms. Commenters requested clearer communication and a targeted city response to address clogged drains and potential grading issues near city-owned property.