Business and residents urge Fort Oglethorpe to commission engineering study after repeated downtown floods

Several residents and a commercial property owner urged the Fort Oglethorpe City Council to act on repeated flooding in the city’s historic downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.

At the public-comment portion of the meeting, resident Gene Bell said his property on Gracie Avenue has flooded three times in 2½ years and that the latest event caused about $12,000 in damage to his heating and air unit. "This last August, it took out my heat and air unit and about 4 others in the neighborhood," Bell said. He asked the city to clear brush and debris from the right-of-way and to clean ditches between Harker and Forest to reduce blockages that send water onto private property.

Commercial property owner Jamie Masick said he has documented multiple flood events since May 2025 with photos and video and that the pattern affects businesses, homeowners and public streets in the area the city hopes to develop as historic downtown. Masick asked the council to "direct staff to perform [a] comprehensive engineering evaluation of the stormwater system in this area, share the findings publicly, and develop a plan with priorities and a timeline to address deficiencies." He added that some affected properties are not shown on FEMA flood maps but still flood in moderate storms.

City officials acknowledged the complaints and said they are aware of the problem. City manager Miss Hune thanked speakers for their input and told the council she will continue work with staff. Council members repeatedly said the issue is a priority and that staff will pursue solutions, though no specific construction or funding commitment was made at the meeting.

The request for an engineering evaluation is a formal ask from property owners and residents; next steps and any council direction to staff were not recorded as a formal motion in the meeting minutes.