Council advances North 6th Street drainage design and schedules several public hearings

Suffolk City Council authorized scheduling of a public hearing on April 15, 2026 to receive public comment on an ordinance authorizing acquisition of permanent and temporary easements — by agreement or condemnation — needed for the North 6th Street drainage design project.

Public Works Director Greg Benton said the project will install about 1,200 linear feet of storm piping, add curb and inlet improvements, and connect the Lloyd’s Place subdivision to the Shingle Creek outfall to relieve recurring flooding. The project requires an easement to tie into existing piping at 7th Street that leads to the outfall; staff said the city has right‑of‑way along 6th Street but lacks access to the existing pipe shown in the project exhibit.

Council members noted the city website had incorrectly posted April 1 as the hearing date; staff corrected the record and confirmed April 15 as the public hearing date. Council also approved, each by 8–0 votes, scheduling an April 15 public hearing on the FY 2026–2027 operating and capital budget and an April 15 public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant annual action plan and HOME Investment Partnership program. The council set May 6, 2026 for a public hearing on a proposed citywide real estate tax increase due to reassessment.

Council emphasized that scheduling the hearings allows staff to move forward with community input and required public‑notice steps; the North 6th Street project will return for a public hearing and subsequent decisions after public comment and any needed right‑of‑way actions.