Property owner urges council to address repeated Mound Street flooding

Greg Patterson, who identified himself as a property owner at 122 North Mound Street and 127 Walker Avenue, used the open-forum portion of the May 7 meeting to press the council to address recurring flooding that has affected his adjoining properties for two decades.

Patterson said photos he provided show the April event reached "about 18 inches" at the back of the main structure and about "10 inches" at the front entrance. He described installing a raised "hump" in 2007 to gain 9 to 10 inches of protection at the front entrance and said he is arranging for a contractor to add a gutter or ditch to intercept water coming onto his lots from the north. Patterson said the flooding is tied to Mound Street overflow and a storm drain that routes water onto his property; he also told the council that nearby properties, including a Goodwill location, have experienced flooding.

Patterson asked the council to take the issue "on your radar" for future consideration. The council did not take formal action on the item during the meeting; it remained part of the public-comment record for staff follow-up.

Why it matters: Recurrent flooding affects private property and downtown businesses and may require a city drainage review or targeted capital work to prevent repeated damage. Patterson provided photos and measurements intended to illustrate the depth and pattern of flooding.

Next steps: The transcript does not record a specific staff assignment or a vote; staff follow-up and any future agenda placement were not specified in the meeting record.