Wilson Avenue residents press council for flood-buyout action; planner says grant-funded project manager coming

Good evening. Resident Hannah Brick told the University City Council on June 23 that residents of Wilson Avenue remain vulnerable to flooding and have lacked home internet service for more than a month after tornado-related damage, and she urged the city to expedite a federal buyout process.

The matter drew extended comment from council members and an update from Dr. John Wagner, University City’s planning and zoning director, who said the city expects to issue a request for qualifications for a grant-funded project manager and may present a consultant contract to council at the next meeting.

Why it matters: Wilson Avenue includes homes previously affected by buyouts after a prior flood; residents say delayed buyouts and service disruptions increase safety risks during storms. Council members expressed urgency about moving the buyout process forward and asked staff for concrete steps and timelines.

Hannah Brick, who lives at 1079 Wilson Avenue, said her household has lacked internet for more than a month and that cell service in her brick house is weak. “We have been without Internet in our home for over a month,” she told the council, and said delays hamper residents’…