Giant rains cause big headaches for city and homeowners

[September 25, 2008]  Mayor Pro Tem Marty Neitzel presided over this week's city council committee workshop on Tuesday evening. Discussion included issues with a residential sewer backup.

Wastewater treatment plant and sewer manager Dave Kitzmiller recalled that we had a significant rain the weekend of Sept. 14. Once again, lift stations could not keep up, he said. He said that he heard from a number of homeowners with the same problem.

One resident experiencing repeated sewer backups into the lower level of their bi-level home has asked if they could add a shut-off valve to their line.

Kitzmiller said he let them know that the sewer line from the residence to where it meets the city line is the responsibility of the homeowner (or business). "It would be on their dime" to make any changes, he said

They understand that it only happens during a significant rain like that, Kitzmiller said. However, they feel that "because it is our system that is backing up, and not theirs, that we should give them assistance," he said.

Kitzmiller did not make a recommendation whether it should or should not be done. He did say, "We have the backhoe and the labor. It doesn't cost that much to go over there and do it."

The cost of the valve is yet unknown.

A council member asked him, "Are there many situations like this?"

"Yes," Kitzmiller said.

It could be endless, a council member commented.

Neitzel asked, "Do they have insurance that covers?" She thought it might fall under the category of "an act of God."

"This has been a year of uncommon rains," Kitzmiller said. "We have had four or five rains this year that we don't normally have."

Kitzmiller was instructed to ask the resident to submit a petition with details that include costs.

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Kitzmiller announced that the new south plant force-main has been up and operating for a week.

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Kitzmiller also proposed a plan to change out blower filters. The cost of filters used by three of the big blowers at the wastewater treatment plant is going up in price from $350 per filter to $1,000 each. Some research showed that new blowers could be purchased that would use bigger filters with twice the capacity. The filters are changed annually. New housing would need to be purchased for the blowers, but it would result in an end savings.

The first housing costs $1,400. Each additional housing is $1,000.

The proposal will be on the Oct. 6 agenda to vote on.

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