Claim Response Colson, KarenBARRY A. LINDAH~
CORPORATION COUNSEL, CITY OF DUBUQUE
MEMO
TO:
DATE:
RE:
Claimant
Karen Colson
Mayor Terrance M. Duggan and
Members of the City Council
October 28, 2002
Claim Against the City By Karen Colson
Date of Claim Date of Loss
10/22/02 10/15/02
Nature of Claim
Property Damage
This is a claim in which claimant states that her garbage can was broken by City of
Dubuque Sanitation crew.
According to the report of Paul Schultz, Solid Waste Management Supervisor, it was
determined after speaking with his refuse crew that the container was damaged in normal
crew handling. The wheel broke off when the customer's full refuse container was pulled
from the curb onto the street in the process of moving the container to the truck.
It is therefore the recommendation of Mr. Schultz to approve this claim for the amount of
$10.87. The Legal Department concurs with this recommendation.
BAl_/tls
CC:
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
Paul Schultz, Solid Waste Management Supervisor
Karen Colson
SUITE 330, HARBOR VIEW PLACE, 300 MAIN STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6944
TELEPHONE (563) 583-4113 / FAX (563) 583-1040 / EMAIL BALESQ(~MWCI.NET
T-~5~0~ FRI 02:5? PM
DUBUQUE PUBLIC WORK$
FAX:56~ 589 4252
PAGE 1
October 25, 2002
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Barry A. Lindahl, Esq., Corporation Council
Paul F. SchuRz, Solid Waste Management Supervisor~..~
Claim of Karen Colson
The ctaim and estimate is approved as filed.
From my conversation with the refuse crew, the referenced refuse
container was damaged in normal crew handling. The wheel broke off when the
customer's full refuse container was pulled off the higher than normal curb onto
the street in the process of moving the container to the truck. The container was
made of a less expensive, hard plastic and of a brand that has proven to be
unsuitable for normal solid waste handling in our climate, City ordinance
Section'40-18 (b) requires that containers used for solid waste disposal must be'
-SuRable% "sturdy~ and may be =plastic containers which do not become briffle in
COld weather".
t would approve the c{aim for the $10.87 if the customer would purchase
and use a.suitable container that is sturdy enough for the heavy-duty application
of solid waste handling.