03-23-88 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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P9INUTES City Council Mar~ch 23, 1988 Mastell The P~ayor• reported that the Council has received a report from the Sewer• City's insur~ance company denying the Mastell claim for• damages caused Dack-Up by sewer• backing up into his basement. The Council also has a r~epor•t submitted by the Public Idor~ks Superintendent on the claim, i~!hich the Agenda Council reviewed. Item No. 10 Mr. Dave Mastell appeared before the Council and reported that two years ago he had a seuier• back-up, which the City's insur•ance car~r•ier• cover•ed 70% of the damage to his basement. At that time $4,500 in damages were caused. After~ the sewer~ back-up, the City c leaned the sewer• line as there was debris in the line. At first the insurance company denied the claim, but after~ the City contacted the insur•ance company 70% of the claim was paid. Mastell r•epor~ted that with r•egar~d to the cur~r~ent claim, the sewer• backed up in July after• a r•ainfall of only 3/4ths to 1 inch. It was two weeks after• the backup occur•r•ed that the Ci ty r~ecei ved a 5 1/2 i nch r~ai nfal 1. Mastell r•epor•ted that these facts ar~e incor~r~ect in the Public l~lor•ks Super•intendent's r~epor•t. Mastell further reported that after the back-up, the City again cleaned the sewer~ 1 i ne, and when the 5 1/2 i nch r•ai n came, ther•e wer•e no pr•obl ems. Due to this Mastell stated that it was his belief that r•oots or• something in the sewer~ caused the back-up and the back-up was not caused by r•oof dr~ains that are connected into the City's sewer• system as indicated by the Public 41or•ks Super•intendent. Mastell r~epor~ted that his basement was flooded on July 5 and the 5 1/2 inch r•ainfall did not occur~ until July 23. Scalze suggested that sticks and debr•is may be washing into the sewer• fr~om the r~oof dr~ains that ar~e connected to the sewer• line. Fahey noted that the Public 41or~ks Super•intendent states that when cleaning the sewer sticks and solid matter was found. Mastell stated that unless the pr~oblem is found, his basement will flood again. P~astell also r•epor~ted that the minimum he expects is that the City's insur~ance company will pay 70% of his claim as was done in the past. Collova asked if any other~ homes in the ar~ea have had these same problems. Mastell r•eplied that 4 other•s have had back-ups, but his basement is the only one that is finished. ftlesener~ suggested that the City Engineer•, Public Wor~ks Superintendent and Mr. Mastell sit down and discuss the pr~oblem. Blesener• also suggested that the City discuss the claim with its insur•ance company. Fahey suggested that the matter• be placed on the Council agenda for~ its next meeting. Page -12-