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Hanford resident asks council to fix chronic flooding on West Grangeville; staff flags storm‑drain fund shortfall
Summary
A Hanford resident described repeated severe flooding at 4111 West Grangeville, urged the city to prioritize drainage work, and staff said the storm‑drain fund is in the negative with a storm‑drain fee increase under consideration.
During the public‑comment portion of the Hanford City Council study session, resident Jordy Nelson asked the council to address recurring flooding at 4111 West Grangeville, describing damage to property and safety risks for pedestrians and people using wheelchairs.
Nelson told the council she has “extreme flooding often up to my knees,” said her driveway and fence are deteriorating, and described short‑term responses by city vacuum trucks that arrive during storms as insufficient for a long‑term fix. She said she first raised the issue with City Manager Mario two years earlier and that city crews have been added to a list for vacuuming during storms.
Why it matters: reported localized flooding affects property, accessibility and public safety; long‑term solutions typically require capital work in the storm‑drain system and dedicated funding.
Staff response and next steps
Engineering Director Frank Centeno said the storm‑drain fund is currently in a negative position and told council staff will bring a storm‑drain fee increase to the council for consideration in the near future. Centeno said staff will develop a plan to assess needs across the city and prioritize repairs.
Council members and others asked technical questions about possible short‑term fixes such as French drains; Nelson said she had contractors evaluate the property and was told French drains would not be effective for her location and in some cases would push water into neighboring yards.
Clarifying details
- Resident: Jordy Nelson, 4111 West Grangeville (provided photos to staff). - Interim response: vacuum trucks deployed during storms; staff said these are not a long‑term solution. - Storm‑drain fund: staff said the fund is “in the negative” and a storm‑drain fee increase will be presented to council soon.
What the council can expect
Staff said they will research the site, include the condition and needs of storm drains in forthcoming planning work, and return with a proposal and budget options for capital repairs or fee changes; council members also may direct additional follow‑up. Nelson requested that staff consider the Grangeville block for prioritization when funding becomes available.
Speakers and attribution in this report are limited to council members and staff who participated in the flooding exchange and the resident’s public comment.
