Claim Response Weig, LoriBARRY A. LINDAHL, E~s'~.
CORPORATION COUNSEl, CITY OF
MEMO
DUBUQUE
To:
DATE:
RE:
Mayor Terrance M. Duggan and
Members of the City Council
November 10, 2003
Claim Against the City of Dubuque by Lori Weig
Claimant
Date of Claim
Date of Loss
Nature of Claim
Lori Weig 11/04/03 10/14/03
Property Damage
This is a claim in which the claimant alleges that the basement of her home sustained
water damage due to a clogged City main located in the vicinity of 601 Southern Avenue.
According to the report of John Klostermann, Street/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor,
Operations & Maintenance records indicate that the department was notified of a possible
sewer problem at 7:00 p.m. on October 14, 2003. VVhen the crew arrived, a visual
inspection of the upstream manhole made it appear that the line was open. However, the
crew did not run the line at that time due to the claimant's plumber had stuck equipment in
the line. VVhen the crew and plumber met the next day, the manhole was uncovered and
the equipment was retrieved. At that time it was discovered that the main line was
plugged. Crew members then jetted the main line and service was restored.
Records indicate that Operations & Maintenance had prior knowledge of the condition of
the line and manhole that serves this home. It is therefore the recommendation of John
Klostermann to approve this claim for the amount of the estimate of $200.23. The Legal
Department concurs with this recommendation.
BAL:tis
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
John Klostermann, Operations & Maintenance Manager
Lori Weig
SUITE 330, HARBOR VIEVV PLACE, 300 MAIN STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6944
TELEPHONE (563) 583-4113 / FAX (563) 583-1040 / EMAIL balesq@cityofdubuque.org
Operations and Maintenance Department
925 Kerper Boulevard
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-2338
(563) 589~4250 office
(563) 589~252 fax
(563) 5894193 TDD
ops&maint ~zityo fdubuque.org
UBE UE
November 6; 2003
Barry Lindahl
Corporation Counsel
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque IA 52004-4864
Dear Barry:
This letter will respond to the claim filed by Ms. Lori Weig.
Our records show that we were notified of a possible sewer problem at 7:00PM on
October 14, 2003. When the crew arrived a visual inspection of the upstream manhole
made it appear that the line was open. The crew did not run the line at this time due to
the equipment that the plumber had stuck in the line. We met with the plumber the next
day, uncovered the manhole and retrieved his equipment. When we uncovered the
manhole we discovered that our main was plugged. It was at that time our main line
was jetted and service restored.
Our records show that we had prior knowledge of the condition of the line and manhole
that serves this home. It is therefore my recommendation to pay the claim as filed
($200.23) because of our knowledge of these defects.
If you need any additional information concerning this claim, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Street/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor