Councilman Marshall told the Wildwood Board of Public Safety on Tuesday that recurring flooding on Wild Horse Creek and frequent roadway overtopping make the creek a high priority for a warning system.
Marshall said, “Wild Horse Creek runs from basically beyond Route T all the way to the Missouri River in Chesterfield Valley,” and noted the road adjacent to the creek is built on the creek bank and is technically in the floodway.
Board members said the city should study options rather than immediately adopt an expensive federal plan. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offered a multi-year, in-depth flood-inundation program that would model forecasts and give hours of advance notice, but Marshall and staff said USGS estimated a four-year timeline and an approximate $200,000 cost. Marshall said a private vendor could deliver a more limited sensor-and-warning system in a shorter timeframe and likely at roughly half that cost.
City staff described technical options that private vendors could offer: water-level sensors in the creek that automatically trigger field devices (flashing signs, illuminated warnings, or gate mechanisms) and wireless communications to activate them. A USGS-style system would additionally produce flood inundation mapping and forecasting but, staff said, has longer delivery time and workforce constraints because of a federal hiring freeze.
Monarch Fire and MetroWest emergency responders were cited repeatedly as stakeholders; council members said swift-water rescues have occurred on or near the roadway and that a warning system would protect both residents and first responders. Marshall referred to a recent Monarch rescue and said it reinforced the need for the system. Council members also discussed the Community Rating System under the National Flood Insurance Program, noting the city currently is not enrolled and that joining the program could reduce private flood-insurance costs for residents if the city implemented additional flood-management measures.
Staff told the board the city already has an opt-in email/enewsletter system used for weather and traffic notices, but staff cautioned that an automated text or app-based mass-notification capability raises operational and legal issues, including the need for a human on duty to trigger some messages and potential liability if notifications are not sent promptly.
After discussion, the board approved a motion to pursue further study and investigation of flood-notification solutions and to request proposals from private vendors so staff could return with pricing and details. Staff said they will prepare a request for proposals and include cost and ongoing maintenance estimates for council review during the next budget cycle.
The board did not adopt a specific system or approve funds at the meeting; members explicitly separated the decision to study options from any later decision to purchase or install equipment.
Looking ahead, staff said they would report back with vendor responses and additional detail to help the board weigh a private solution against a comprehensive USGS approach.