Residents press Byron council for fixes to stormwater flooding and neighborhood speeding

Three residents raised safety and property concerns during the public-comment portion of the City of Byron meeting on July 14, 2025.

Resident Kimberly Jump asked the Mayor and Council to consider installing speed bumps on Murdock Lane and Academy Street, saying motorists often speed on those blocks, particularly when she is occupied with grandchildren or late at night. Mayor Michael Chidester encouraged residents to report individual incidents and submit photographic evidence to the Police Department to help enforcement efforts.

Two other longtime residents described recurring stormwater flooding that they say is damaging property. Willa Dean Barbor told the council that heavy runoff pours across her lot and under her home on Boy Scout Road after rain and requested a larger drain grate to prevent repeated clogging and indoor impacts. Tabitha Barnes, who said she has lived on Alpine Drive for more than 20 years, reported that water is undermining retaining walls and warned that rising water could one day block access to her home. Mayor Chidester said Ms. Barnes’s property is listed as a priority 3 and that the city’s engineers are working on several related issues. Director of Public Works Tiffany Bibb said Public Works staff would inspect both properties in the next few days and follow up with the residents.

The council did not take formal action at the meeting beyond directing Public Works staff to investigate and prioritize repairs; residents asked for infrastructure fixes and interim enforcement measures. The exchange highlights continuing localized drainage problems and neighborhood traffic concerns that the city has identified as priorities for service and engineering review.