Claim Response Leibold, MelvinBARRY A. LINDAHL~ ESQ~ '"-
CORPORATION COUNSEL,{.CITY OF DUBUQUE
MEMO
TO:
Mayor Terrance M. Duggan and
Members of the City Council
DATE: May 9, 2003
RE:
Claim Against the City By Melvin Leibold
Claimant
Date of Claim
Date of Loss
Nature of Claim
Melvin Leibold 04/22/03 04/08/03
Property Damage
This is a claim in which claimant alleges that his basement sustained water damage due
to a plugged sewer main located near his residence of 93 Nevada Street.
According to the report of John Klostermann, Street/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor, Mr.
Klostermann states that on April 8, 2003, Operations & Maintenance crew responded to a
call at 93 Nevada Street. After it was discovered that the main line was plugged, the line
was jetted and service was restored. Dudng their investigation, a build up of hard material
at the joint of the pipe was found, which could have caused the backup. This material was
removed from the pipe and Mr. Klostermann feels that there shouldn't be any additional
problems with that line.
Records indicate that there was also a problem with the same line last year. it is therefore
the recommendation of John Klosterrnann to pay this claim for the amount of $238.50.
The Legal Department concurs with this recommendation.
BAL/tls
cc:
Michael Van Miiligen, City Manager
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
John Klostermann, Street/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
Melvin Leibold
SUITE 330, HARBOR VIEW PLACE, 300 MAIN STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6944
TELEPHONE (563) 583-4113 / FAX (563) 583-1040 / EMAIL BALESQ(~MWCLNET
Operations and Maintenance Department
925 Kerper Boulevard
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-2338
(563) 58%4250 office
(563) 5894252 fax
(563) 5894193 TDD
ops&maint @cityo f dubuque .org
May 6, 2003
Barry Lindahl
Corporation Counsel
50We~ 13th Stre~
Dubuque IA 52004-4864
Dear Barry:
In this letter, I will respond to the claim filed by Mr. Melvin Leibold.
On April 8, 2003, we responded to a sewer call at 93 Nevada. Our crew discovered that
our main line was plugged. The line was jetted and service restored in a timely manner.
Our CCTV investigation revealed a build up of hard material at the joint of the pipe. I
believe that this material, which restricts the flow in the pipe, may have also caused the
backup. This material has been removed from the pipe and I feet that we should not
have any additional problems with this line.
Our records show that we also had a problem with this line last year. Although we
make every effort to avoid additional backups, our efforts were not successful. It is
therefore my recommendatien to ~he pay the claim as filed.
If you need any add tonal information concerning this claim, please contact me.
stermann
Street/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
Service People Integrity Respor~ibility Innovation Teamwork