Claim Response, Dolan, JosephBARRY A. LINDAttL, ESQ.
CORPORATION COUNSEL, CITY OF
MEMO
To:
DATE:
R~:
Claimant
Joseph E. Dolan
Mayor Terrance M. Duggan and
Members of the City Council
April 30, 2001
Claim by Joseph E. Dolan
Date of Claim
4/9/01
Date of Loss
Nature of Claim
1/4/01 property damage
This is a claim for expenses for damages to the claimant's home, which the claimant states
sustained damage when a City sewer main was blocked and caused water to enter his home.
According to the report of John Klostermann, Street/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor, his
department's records indicate that the department was notified of a possible problem with the
main on January 4, 2001. Although the line was blocked due to a build-up of debris, the line was
cleaned and serviced in a timely manner. The report also states that there was no record of a
problem with this particular line. Mr. Klostermann recommends denial of this claim based on
lack of prior knowledge. The Legal Department concurs with this recommendation.
BAL/jm
Cc: Don Vogt, Operations and Maintenance Manager
John Klostermann, Street/Sewer Maintemmce Supervisor
Joseph E. Dolan
196 DUBUQWE BUILDING 700 LOCUST STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6824
TELEPHONE (319) 5834113 /FAX (319) 583-1040 /EM~IL BALESQ~vi%VCI.NET
Operations & Maintenance Deparhnent
925 Kerper Boulevard
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-2338
(319) 589-4250
(319) 589~252 FAX
April 30, 2001
Barry Lindahl
Corporation Council
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52004-4864
Dear Barry:
This letter will respond to the claim filed by Mr. Joseph Dolan on April 9, 2001.
Our records show that we were notified of a possible problem with our main around
4:00PM on 1/4/01. A crew was dispatched and found that our line was plugged due to
build up of a debris in the line. The line was cleaned and service restored in a timely
manor.
Our records show that we do not have a history of problems with this line. It is therefore
my recommendation to deny this claim based on our history and the lack of prior
knoWledge.
If you need any additional information concerning this claim, please contact me.
n Klo~s~ermann
Street/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork