Jeffersontown council declares emergency after flash flooding, authorizes mayor to sign road-repair contracts

Jeffersontown City Council on Oct. 7 declared an emergency in response to flash flooding that damaged roads, streets and culverts overnight Oct. 6 and during Oct. 7, and authorized the mayor to execute contracts recommended by the public works director to make repairs.

The declaration, passed as Resolution No. 836, Series 2025, was introduced, read into the record and approved by the council by voice vote. The resolution states in part that “an emergency exists within the city of Jeffersontown, Kentucky as a result of last night’s flooding creating safety issues throughout the city and the mayor is hereby authorized to execute such contracts as recommended by the public works director.”

Council members and city staff said the worst immediate damage is on Plantside Drive, the main artery in the city’s industrial park. Jimmy, a public works staff member who has been on site, told the council the roadway had collapsed where a pipe runs about 8 feet under the pavement and that water had undermined the roadbed. He said crews were meeting with contractors and planned to expedite design and cost proposals.

“It is the roughest flood I’ve seen in J Town,” Jimmy said, describing water levels that reached building walls and a washed-out concrete channel that undermined the roadway. He told council members he expected to meet five contractors the following morning to obtain immediate repair designs and bids.

Council members said the industrial park remained accessible by alternate routes, and staff placed barricades and city trucks to block hazardous sections until repairs can be completed. Jimmy also said he had asked the fire department to deploy a drone to document the damage and help identify blockages in the creek system.

No dollar amounts or contractor awards were recorded at the meeting; the resolution authorizes the mayor to sign contracts as recommended by the public works director. Council members said other damaged culverts and streets across the city would be addressed under the same emergency authority.

The resolution passed without recorded roll-call votes. City staff said they would return with bids and designs and communicate directly with affected businesses in the industrial park, including Jones Plastic, which staff said had been kept informed.

Outlook: City staff will solicit expedited designs and contractor proposals and report back to the council; no contract awards were recorded at the meeting.