Resident urges city to inspect stormwater system after repeated basement flooding in Cumberland Green

Virgil Bonner told the Fountain City Council during the public comment period on Aug. 12 that his house at the north corner of Candlelight and Trackage in the Cumberland Green neighborhood has flooded multiple times, including a major event three years ago that filled his basement to about 8.5 feet.

Bonner said recent storms have produced standing water of about 2 feet in the same intersection and that when the neighborhood retention pond is full, his property is at risk. He told council he could not obtain flood insurance through FEMA because FEMA maps do not show his address in a mapped flood zone. He estimated runoff volumes and said some storm drains bypass capacity when flows rise; Bonner described previous city street supervisor inspections and said he had requested drain and manhole inspections.

City staff replied that street and stormwater crews regularly respond after big storms, and the city manager offered to connect Bonner with the city engineer for an on‑site inspection. A staff member described legal limits on discharging into downstream waters and said constructing additional outfalls or new retention ponds would be difficult because of cost and regulatory constraints; staff nevertheless agreed to send a stormwater engineer to meet Bonner at his property.

Councilmembers and staff asked for the exact intersection and confirmed an inspection would be arranged. Bonner described impacts to his family, including property loss and stress; staff committed to follow up and set a meeting with the city engineer and street supervisor.