Resident urges action after years of drainage flooding in Hill Ridge Subdivision; public works pledges site visit

Kathy Snyder of 8908 Collingwood Road told the council that severe drainage problems in the Hill Ridge Subdivision have worsened since a county road regrading about a decade ago and since the neighborhood’s annexation into Jeffersontown. Snyder said her property sits at the lowest point of a hillside and takes water from San Marcos and Cottage Hills; she estimated she and her husband have spent close to $30,000 on fixes and said recent storms have again washed out repairs and churned up utilities.

Snyder said she obtained a contractor estimate of roughly $4,000–$5,000 to install a swale to divert some flow partway down her yard, but the work would not address upstream volume that she says overwhelms the area during heavy rains. She said she contacted public works several times (messages and a March 20 call) without a promised callback and asked whether the city could or should pursue other options.

Public Works staffer Jimmy (last name not specified) told Snyder he recalled prior visits, asked to gather details, and said he would arrange for staff to return to inspect the site, likely beginning the next day. Jimmy acknowledged heavy workloads on some crews but said staff would communicate findings and options to Snyder after the inspection.

Councilmembers said staff would follow up; Snyder and neighbors described four homes as seriously affected, with Snyder’s house the worst. Public works staff noted the complexity of hillside drainage and the limits of what the city can do to change historic downhill flow or solve offsite upstream grading decisions.