08-19-86 Utilities Committee - Laserfiche WebLink

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UTILITIES COMMITTEE The August 19, 1986 meeting of the Utilities Committee was called to order by its chairman Councilman Joseph Serge at 4:08 p.m. , in the Chambers. Council Member Serge asked for input from the audience as to their sewer problems. Mark Pilkinton, 403 N. Esther, indicated that if it rains 3/4" he gets raw sewage coming into the basement. He indicated he has installed valves at a great expense, but that means we have to be home or wake up in the middle of the night to turn the valves. He indicated the City is telling them there is a 12 ' sewer on Madison and it cannot handle the load. He indicated they needed a separate storm sewer. He indicated that with a good storm sewer system we would not be putting raw sewage in the river. Claire Matthews, 306 E. Pokagon, indicated they are having the same problem in a three block area around her house. She indicated they had put in valves, but the live expectancy of the valves is two years. She indicated that after the last storm they had 4" of water throughout the basement. She indicated that when she called the City they indicated the sewer pipes were inadequate. Leann Myers, 237 Victoria, indicated they live the first house off the drain and have two or three feet of water in the basement after a heavy storm. She indicated the sewage drains are too small. Kathy Kosch, 3309 Pleasant, indicated they have lived there 9 months and their basement has flooded 4 times with raw sewage. She indicated she has small children and is concerned about their health. Sam Hall, 237 Victoria, indicated this seems to be a major problem all over the City. He indicated there should be a separate drain for the sewage system and the street run off water. John Leszczynski, City Engineer, indicated there is no easy solution to this problem. He indicated this is a common problem with all old communities where the sanitary sewers were not designed to handle the storms of today. He indicated they estimate it will cost between 70 to 110 million dollars to correct the problem, and that will not solve all of the problems. The EPA requires that we treat all water. He indicated there are several things homeowners could do to help the situation: roof drains should be disconnected from the sanitary sewers; plugs in the basement, proper installation of stools in the basement, sump pumps. He indicated that with the use of Federal dollars when we widen a street we are putting in storm sewer systems. Council Member Taylor indicated we have an obligation to form a plan. He asked for some kind of a timetalbe was required to get this started. John Leszczynski indicated it would take at least 60 days, and he would be in contact with everyone who spoke at this meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 5: 20 p.m.