HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090817 - VIII-A-1MEMO
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Tom Montgomery
Date: August 6, 2009
Re: Authorize Payment - ii9o W. 4th Street Water Service Repair
The Operations Committee met on August 31a to consider the request from
Steve Trautmann, ii9o W. 4111 Street, for the City to pay for the $3,539.50 cost of
repairing his water service. A copy of the memo to the Operations Committee on
this issue is enclosed.
In brief, Mr. Trautmann's water service shutoff valve was located in his
bituminous driveway (picture enclosed) when his house was constructed in 1984•
In 1999 4t1i St. was reconstructed, but a protective heavy duty cover was not
installed over the shutoff valve as was done with all of the other shutoff valves
located in the sidewalk or driveways on this project. The water service began
leaking at the shutoff valve this summer and was repaired at a cost of $3,539.50•
Operations Committee Recommendation
The Operations Committee recommended that the City pay the entire cost
of the water service repair due to the failure to install a protective heavy duty
cover over the shutoff valve as part of the 1999 4t1i St. reconstruction project.
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From: Thomas Montgomery
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 9:24 AM
To: Mike Slavik; Danna EllingSchultz; Tony Nelson
Cc: Mayor Hicks; Anthony Alongi; Barb Hollenbeck; Joe Balsanek; Dave Osberg; Nick
Egger; Jolu1 Zgoda; SJTrautmann~Yahoo.com
Subject: Operations Committee Meeting, Monday, August 3, 6:00 PM in the Volunteer
Room
Attachments: 1190 West 4th Street - l.jpg; 1030 West 4th Street.jpg
Operations Committee Members,
I have scheduled an Operations Committee Meeting for Monday, August 3 at 6:00
PM in the Volunteer Room at City Hall to discuss two utility service issues:
• Trautmann water service repair at 1190 W 4ti' St.
• Platson sewer service at 300 W 4ti' St
1190 W 4t'` St.
The Trautmann's water shut off valve recently began leaking and has been
repaired. The water shut off valve is located within their driveway. Through experience,
we have learned that shut off valves in driveways have a higher rate of failure that those
located in boulevard areas. Our theory is that vehicles driving over the shut off valve
may push down on the valve, eventually weakeiung its com7ections with the water service
line. For the past dozen or so years, we have been installing water main valve covers
over the water service shut offs when located in driveways as a measure to reduce the
stress on these shut off valves.
Mr. Trautmann's driveway was first installed in 1984, with bituminous paving
around his water service shut off valve. k7 1999, we reconstnicted 4ti' St. and replaced
part of his bituminous driveway, but did not install a valve cover over his water service
shut off - I do not know why not. City ordinance notes that property owners are
responsible for repairs to their water services all the way from the main in the street to
their home. Recognizing that our standard at the time 4t1i St. was reconstructed was to
install valve covers over curb stops in driveways and that this wasn't done in 1999, I told
Mr. Trautmann that I would recommend to the City Council that the City fund part of his
water service repair. I said I would reconunend a 40% contribution from the City,
reasoning that for 15 years prior to the road constn~ction project, the curb stop was
unprotected and likely was weakened somewhat by vehicles driving over it. The effects
of the past 10 years of vehicles driving over the curb stop could have been reduced if we
had installed a valve cover over the curb stop when 4ti' St. was reconstructed in 1999.
Thus the proposed 60/40 split -the first 15 years of the 25 years life of the service (60%)
would be Mr. Trautman's responsibility and the remaining 10 years (40%), City
responsibility.
Mr. Trautmann wishes to address the Council to request a higher cost share from
the City - up to 100%.
ems: -
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