After repeated public complaints, Destin council asks staff for funding plan to tackle stormwater issues including Snapper Drive

Council members on Feb. 2 directed Public Works Director Michael Burgess to provide a detailed accounting of additional funding needed to carry out the city’s stormwater abatement program, specifically naming Snapper Drive as a priority.

Resident Don Dallas and others detailed long‑running flooding problems on Snapper Drive, citing prior project phases that omitted his street and presenting photographs and city documents. Council and staff discussed prior drainage upgrades around Destin, the city’s 2022 stormwater master plan and the distinction between private and public contributions to on‑site drainage problems.

Councilman Bagby and others pushed for a practical, prioritized list of projects and asked Burgess to identify what additional funding would allow the department to operate “effectively and efficiently.” Council voted to request the report (motion, second; vote 5–0).

The public works director and staff indicated the master plan (adopted 2022) already lists eight to 10 flood mitigation projects; the requested report will identify costs to accelerate or complete projects, including any immediate needs for Snapper Drive. Council discussed low‑cost, immediate measures (e.g., French drains, downspout exfiltration) versus higher‑cost capital projects and asked staff to address both near‑term tactical fixes and longer‑range funding strategies.

Next steps: staff will return with a project‑level funding estimate and proposed timeline; council did not commit appropriations at the meeting.