Glenn Heights residents tell council heavy backyard flooding is damaging their home

Joshua and Jewel Williams, homeowners at 1003 James Donald Lane in Glenn Heights, told the City Council during public comment that heavy rainfall has repeatedly flooded their backyard and patio, forcing them to push water away by hand to keep it from entering their house.

The Williamses said the problem began after they moved in last January and has steadily worsened. "It just floods into our patio. It's like a river," Joshua Williams said, adding the water is now draining along the side of the house and leaving large mud puddles the day after storms. He said the family pays to clean up damage after every heavy rain and that the neighborhood configuration offers “no place for the water to go.”

Mayor Sonya A. Brown asked whether the Williamses had emailed photos to the city manager. City Manager Clifford Blackwell told the Williamses staff can accept either electronic or physical copies; he said staff will review the documentation and follow up. The Williamses said they had not yet emailed the photos but would provide both electronic and printed copies for staff.

The Williamses did not identify a specific neighbor or development action that they said caused the flooding and said their concern is how to stop water from entering their home. No formal action was taken during the meeting; council staff recorded the complaint for follow up and asked the residents to provide supporting photos.

City staff did not provide a timeline for investigation during the public comment period. The mayor and city manager indicated staff would "get with staff" and contact the residents after reviewing the submitted photos and documentation.

The council did not vote or direct a specific remedy during public comment; the Williamses' request will be handled through staff follow-up as an after-meeting task.