Published: July 15, 2008 10:42 am      

City to look at sewer, drainage problems

CLINTON — The Clinton City Services Committee has directed city staff to investigate potential solutions to sewer and drainage problems in various areas of the city.

During a recent CSC meeting, several residents expressed concerns regarding drainage problems across property lines, while others discussed problems with wastewater backing up into their basements.

First, At-Large Councilman Mark Vulich addressed the issue of water draining across property at 1950 Bluff Blvd., owned by Dwaine and Deb Johnson.

Vulich said the neighboring property was vacated in 2006 at the recommendation of the city planner and the new owner raised the property, causing water to be drained across the Johnson property and resulting in a hole “eroding into a cavern.”

City Administrator Gary Boden said an easement is needed to rectify the problem, noting the city never should have relinquished the easement to the property.

He said a pipe could be installed to convey water off the property, but noted the property owner may have to extend the pipe to the creek adjacent to the property, at their own expense, in order to completely solve the problem. He added the city is not liable for the problem, stating developers channeled the water to the natural water flow course and noting that modern drainage laws require cities to maintain what drainage is in existence.

Deb Johnson stated that she feels the development of the neighboring property is to blame for the excess drainage, saying it is not the natural flow of the water and is a man-made problem. At-Large Councilman Ron Mallicoat said it doesn’t seem right that the city could turn its back on the affected property owners. Boden said that several years ago, stormwater management processes were not scientific and today, better retention and redirection procedures are used.

Public Works Director Gary Schellhorn said he would work with the Johnsons to obtain an easement of approximately 20 feet and remarked a pipe could be placed underground to drain the water off-site.

Three Lyons residents addressed the committee regarding a petition filed on behalf of residents of the Lyons District. The petition requests the city update the sewer/stormwater drainage system in their area. Charles Mulholland said the residents are frustrated after dealing with sewage backing up into their basements for many years. Brenda Police questioned why the city would begin the stormwater sewer separation projects in higher flow areas first, which creates increased flow to areas that have not been separated and an increase in sewage backups.

Bill Peart commented that he has lived in his home for 33 years and dealt with the ongoing problem many times. He said that sometimes he is able to “keep the mess down” using his ShopVac, but other times, he gets three to four inches of sewage in his basement. Peart said he thought the 22nd Avenue North sewer separation project would help, but seems to have created more back pressure and now, he experiences more problems.

Boden remarked the region has seen higher rainfall this spring than for many years past. He commented that the number of calls the city receives concerning backups was a factor in how the city determined the first separation projects to be completed. He said financial planning will be occurring soon for city projects, but said that funding is committed to projects currently under way. He estimated the soonest the city could commit to separating stormwater and sewer systems in the area would be at least 16 months from now. Schellhorn said a study of the complete area was performed in advance of the 22nd Avenue North project. He said design of a new system could be completed in approximately six to eight months.

Mallicoat stated that the issue is not just a sewer problem, but a health problem, and said the city should push the project forward faster. Schellhorn agreed something needs to be done, but said if the city proceeds with replacing the system in the area, it could result in moving the problem to another area just a few blocks away.

Peart said one business owner in the area complained to the city and the city spent thousands of dollars installing pumps at the person’s residence and business to alleviate the sewage problem. Ward 4 Councilman and Committee Chairman Paul Gassman asked if the city could place pumps in the area to decrease the sewage backing up into residential basements. Schellhorn said pumps would have to be installed in each residence, saying the move would be costly as each pump costs approximately $5,000.

Schellhorn said the city would increase inspection and cleaning of the system, in order to make sure it is running the best it can. At-Large Councilwoman Bette Oakley said the stormwater separation project should be put on the upcoming projects list as soon as possible. Boden said the council could vote to place the project on the Capital Improvement Plan, but said not enough information was available to make a decision as to the solution. The committee approved a motion to perform a study of the problem and expected costs involved with the project.

Gassman addressed an agenda item regarding inquiries received by the city concerning the installation of landscape meters and use of the meters for filling swimming pools. Gassman said he had been contacted by several city residents saying they would like a landscape meter, but when city officials learned it would be for a swimming pool, they were denied.

City Treasurer Deb Neels said the city excluded swimming pool filling from the acceptable uses of a landscape meter by ordinance. Vulich said he believes water for pools was exempted because the water eventually will be released into the sewer system. Schellhorn agreed, and said that when residents water lawns or gardens, the water goes into the plants or the ground. He said chlorinated water can kill plants and grass, and said when people drain their pools, they do so with the purpose of getting the water off their property, noting the water ends up in gutters and then the sewer system.