What happened: On KWEL radio, Mayor Lori Blong addressed ongoing community concerns over flooding and drainage following the large amount of rain received during the week of the 4th of July.

Why it matters: The city has made progress tackling long-standing infrastructure issues, but many neighborhoods still face repeated flooding and delayed road improvements.

The big picture: Midland manages more than 650 miles of city roadway. Previous city leadership did not prioritize road maintenance, contributing to today’s infrastructure gaps and the costly catch-up that the current council must now undertake.

Key points:

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  • Flooding has been a persistent problem in Midland for decades. The city has made improvements through the 2017 voter-approved $100 million road bond. However, problem zones, including Wadley Avenue and parts of southeast Midland, still need attention. Council will address these areas over time through funding available in each year’s annual budget, but the city cannot fix all flooding issues at once due to financial constraints.

  • The city conducted a comprehensive road study prior to the 2017 bond. The study outlined city streets that needed drainage improvements and noted that Garfield Street was in need of drainage improvements. The city expects Garfield to wrap up later this year and has already seen reduced flooding due to a new storm drainage system installed under the road.