By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Glenwood City Commissioners unanimously denied a request to compensate a Glenwood resident for the cost of installing backflow prevention devices in the home’s sewer line.  

The issue first came before the city commission on June 28, when Dan Schliesman, speaking on behalf of his mother, Barb, who lives at 15 4th Ave. SE in Glenwood, asked for financial compensation of about $1,800 to pay for the device installation.  Barb Schliesman experienced two sewer backups into the home’s finished basement within a year and a half, it was stated.   After the first backup, Schliesman had requested but was denied $2,000 to pay the deductible amount on her insurance coverage.  When it happened again, the Schliesmans requested that the city pay for the backflow prevention devices that the Schliesmans planned to install on their private line.  In both cases, the backup started by a blockage in the city’s line.

The city commission, with only three members present at the June 28 meeting, tabled the issue to get more information and to bring it back to the full commission in July.   After a discussion, the request was denied last Tuesday on a 5-0 vote.

Commissioner Mavis Pattee started the discussion last Tuesday saying she thinks “very highly of Barb, but I am not able to support city payment for back flow device.”

From the city’s perspective, she said, the insurance company reviewed the situation and the city monitored the line and increased maintenance.

City Administrator Dave Iverson agreed, saying that the city, after the first incident with the line that services the Schliesman home and that area, had the line televised.  He said the city televises and inspects city sanitary sewer lines by an outside company about every four-to-five years.  

“A blockage in the line doesn’t automatically mean it’s a bad pipe,” Iverson said.  If it is we will replace it.”

He reiterated that the city’s sewer line that services that area of town is a 12-inch pipe and the city’s professional inspections have shown that the pipe is consistently flowing at only 30 percent of capacity, meaning that it could handle a lot more flow.

He cautioned the commission that if they paid for a backflow prevention device on a private line and there was another blockage, “it will likely go to the next basement or the first place it can go to relieve the pressure,” he said.

Iverson said the city and individual commissioners received a number of comments (mostly anonymously) stating that if the city pays for one they should expect bills from others who have had sewer backups in the past.

Commissioner Neil Haynes said he was concerned about creating city liability for future events, but then added “we might also be creating liability for past events as well.”

The age of the line was not a factor and it is functioning well, commissioners were told.

“Is there something more the city can do to investigate blockages in the city’s sewer lines once they occur?” asked Pattee.  Iverson responded by saying the city has a protocol it follows anytime a backup occurs.  He also talked about how tree roots affect sewer lines and added that the city cannot control what gets flushed down toilets, referring to wipes, diapers or other items that have been found to cause backups.

“The city just can’t be responsible for everything that causes backups…it’s next to impossible and we can’t guarantee a pipe will never have a blockage.”  

Commissioner Todd Gylsen made the motion to deny the request from the Schliesmans and with a second by Haynes the motion passed unanimously.

In other action, the commission:

• Approved hiring Darren Athey, a Minnesota State Patrol Officer to serve on a part-time basis for the Glenwood Police Department.

• Introduced an updated ordinance that regulates the use of portable storage/shipping containers within the city of Glenwood.  

• Approved a temporary beer license for Starbuck VFW Post 4582 to operate a beer garden in conjunction with the Pope County Fair on Aug. 3-6.

• Approved a Waterama request for street closure in front of Lakeside Ballroom to host street dances on July 28 and July 29, during the Waterama celebration.