PALM COAST, Fla. — The City of Palm Coast is moving forward with plans to help homeowners address flooding issues.

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, the Residential Drainage Advisory Committee recommended the city offer surplus dirt to residents to alleviate standing water issues.

“I shouldn’t have to come up here every damn meeting and ask for y’all to help of something that y’all created by signing off on the approval of the property next to me,” Palm Coast resident Jeremy Davis expressed during the meeting.

City leaders hope that by providing free dirt — collected from swale regarding and yard modifications — residents can improve drainage on their properties.

Details on the dirt donation program include:

  • Surplus Dirt Availability: A maximum of 5 cubic yards of dirt will be available per household.

  • Pickup Location: Dirt can be collected from the city’s dirt screening operation on North Old Kings Road.

  • Pickup Schedule: Residents will be able to pick up dirt on specific dates and times, to be announced soon.

  • Eligibility: Palm Coast residents can use the dirt to make improvements on their private properties.

During the meeting, city officials stressed that drainage fixes are not one-size-fits-all, and that some projects may require additional steps.

If machinery is used to spread the dirt on the premises, homeowners will need to obtain a grading permit issued by the city, officials said. The permit ensures compliance with local regulations and helps maintain proper drainage functionality.

City leaders said they cannot use public funds for private benefit, and by repurposing surplus dirt from existing city operations, it supports drainage improvements while using public resources responsibly.

“Having the dirt, I am not certain that very many people will participate in that, but at least that will give them a way to backfill some things,” Committee Chair Donna Stancel said.

The Residential Drainage Advisory Committee was formed in February 2024, with volunteers tasked with finding “practical solutions” to the city’s drainage issues.