Residents press Wichita Falls council to act on decades of East Side flooding

Multiple East Side residents told the Wichita Falls City Council on May 19 that decades of flooding, broken infrastructure and deferred maintenance require immediate action.

Crystal Washington told the council she had repeatedly requested that the city place East Side flooding on the agenda and traced major flood events in 1886, 1950, 2007, 2015 and 2018. "The floodgate at Duncan Road that you said you fixed in April 2025 has been broken since 2019," Washington said, asking why the neighborhood remains vulnerable. She urged the council to move beyond statements and schedule concrete work.

Kathy Dodson said residents are frustrated that the city is planning tens of millions in spending without voter approval while basic needs remain unmet. "How much of that $26,000,000 is going to go fix that flooding?" she asked, saying she feared debt was being prioritized over urgent neighborhood repairs.

Other speakers, including a long-time East Side resident who said she had struggled to access grant funds, described obstacles to business investment and the practical impacts of flooding and poor maintenance. One resident recounted being told to front costs for a TAF grant and await reimbursement, which she said discouraged participation.

Council and staff responded that the city has heard residents' concerns and is working with a consultant to determine whether to pursue a focused East Side drainage study or a citywide drainage assessment. A staff member told the audience the consultant will present findings at a June meeting and emphasized the importance of prioritizing projects once the assessment is complete.

Several residents pressed for near-term actions as well — mowing, cleanup and clearer timelines — and said they expected visible work within weeks. Council members acknowledged the long history of flooding on the East Side and committed to making the drainage study a public agenda item in June so the city can begin identifying specific projects and timelines.

The public exchange drew repeated calls for better transparency about how city savings and planned capital investments are prioritized. Speakers said that while they support economic development and tourism, neighborhood safety and basic services must not be left behind. The council repeatedly urged patience with bureaucratic timelines but agreed on the need to make progress and to report back publicly on next steps.

Next steps: staff said the consultant's update will be scheduled for one of the two June council meetings; residents asked for visible cleanup activity within weeks.