The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council emerged from its Aug. 25 meeting with new leadership, a formal flood-response committee and a signed cooperation agreement with Save Hyde Park Square, capping a month of governance upheaval after back-to-back July floods.

Kevin Randall was elected HPNC president and Mary Wagner vice president at an Aug. 13 executive session, both by 11-1 votes with one abstention, according to the HPNC meeting packet. The leadership change followed two resignations: Vice President Dan Lee stepped down July 14, and President Valerie Woodham resigned July 24, after both floods had struck.

Former treasurer John Menninger served as interim president from July 29 through the Aug. 13 election. In his president's report for the Aug. 25 meeting, Menninger wrote: "July was a tumultuous month for our neighborhood and the community council. The flooding … caused tremendous emotional stress and financial expense to our residents and business owners."

Randall was absent Tuesday. Wagner presided over the regular session, which began at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, 1345 Grace Ave. The meeting had been rescheduled from Aug. 11 after another storm knocked out power.

Flood committee and survey

The board voted 12-0 at the Aug. 13 session to establish a Flood Response Ad Hoc Committee, with a charter drafted by communications secretary Maureen Hood. Approximately 160 residents have indicated interest in joining the committee, and a community flood survey drew roughly 190 responses documenting destroyed mechanical systems, structural damage and business interruptions.

Trustee Blair Whitney suggested the committee consider a broader extreme-weather role covering downed trees, blocked streets and emergency-access concerns. The board agreed to consider the wider scope while keeping flooding and infrastructure as the primary focus.

The damage residents reported is substantial. Hyde Park resident Christina Rittenburg told Local 12 on July 27: "Our floor is heaved in the basement. We had a $6,000 repair for our furnace and hot water heater, $2,800 cleaning and restoration, mold remediation. The new washer-dryer, that's only a month old, gone."

City coordination

HPNC partnered with the Mt. Lookout and Oakley community councils to co-author a joint letter to Mayor Aftab Pureval and City Council requesting a prioritized timeline for infrastructure improvements and a multi-neighborhood working group. Menninger also provided public comment at the City Council Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Aug. 4.

The council coordinated with Council Member Seth Walsh and the Department of Public Services to place an emergency dumpster on Hyde Park Square for flood-impacted businesses after the July 17 storm.

The board also adopted a communication agreement with Save Hyde Park Square at the Aug. 13 session. The agreement requires both organizations to coordinate public statements and notify each other before speaking to the press on matters it covers.

What's next

An open community flood-response meeting with representatives from City Council, MSD and other city officials is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25, immediately following the regular meeting. HPNC has two open trustee positions, with applications accepted through August and a potential vote in October.

The council is planning a "Flood the Square with Love" event on Saturday, Sept. 12, in coordination with the Hyde Park Square Business Association to support flood-impacted businesses. The $44,000 VITCA fund, a voluntary tax paid by the Hampton Inn, will be voted on in September for projects that may include traffic calming and flood-business support.

The next HPNC monthly meeting is Sept. 8 at the Little Theater.