4.7. SR 06-04-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Customer: Diane McGarthwaite Property: 18829 Albany St NW Elk River, MN (Westwood Addn, Block 9, Lot 9) The homeowner hooked up to city sewer in April 1994. The first hint of trouble began Christmas Eve day 1996 when the sewer backed up into the basement. Minneagasco was'called to fLX the problem as part of their "Service Protection" program. They wereunable to clear the line due to some obstruction or structural damage to the line coming from the street. They brought a TV camers.~the next day to show the homeowner that there actually was physical damage to the pipe near the property line'. The property owner was advised that a repair was necessary and to call the insta.lling contractor, Big Jon's Construction. Big Jon's.Construction excavated and could find nothing wrong with the line coming from the house to the property line. It's unknown how much of the line to the main was examined, but he indicated to the homeowner that Minnegasco must be wrong about the obstruction because he couldn't find anything wrong and waste was flowing again. He did install a third cleanout 19 feet back from the curb. At that point, the line is 7 feet below the surface. The homeowner believes structural --~ damage to the line may have occurred when the underground electrical was ~ installed because there is a transformer just a few feet from where the break ._~ appeared to be located. The homeowner tried to seek restitution from Minnegasco for Big Jon's excavating bill because they appeared to be mistaken about the structural damage to the line. Instead, on Feb 12, 1997, Minnegaseo brought TV camera and video taped the damage. It's very apparent there is physical damage consisting of cracks and a portion of the plastic pipe missing---you can see the rocks about ready to fall into the line and cause another blockage. This break appears to be on the city installed portion of the line about 6 to 7 feet in from the curb. As of April 29, 2001, the line is blocked again and Minnegasco refuses to intercede. Elk River Utilities indicates it's not their problem, and the Elk River Sewer Department indicates it's up to the homeowner to fix it even if it was originally installed by the City of Elk River. This seems unfair in light of the short time the line worked as intended. Elk River City Engineer was advised of the problem and the homeowner still waits for his decision more than two weeks later. Someone needs to "own up" to fixing this continuing problem. The homeowner paid over $12,000 for city sewer and has every fight to assume it was built to last more than 2.75 years. The homeowner does not have another $3,000 to fLX the sewer line. These costs may seem high to repair a sewer line, but according to Big Jori, the site needs to be dewatered, and there will probably need to be curb and street repairs if the break is located further out than where he excavated previously. Someone please take the responsibility to fix the problem for this homeo~vner.