Claim Response Horsfall, Leanne
BAR R Y A. L I N D A H L, ESQ.
CITY ATTORNEY
MEMO
To:
Mayor Roy D. Buol and
Members of the City Council
DATE:
June 14, 2006
RE:
Claim against the City of Dubuque by Leanne Horsfall
Date of Loss
Nature of Claim
Claimant
Date of Claim
Leanne Horsfall
04/03/06
04/05/06
Property Damage
This is a claim in which the claimant alleges that the basement of her residence located
at 2161 Lincoln Avenue sustained water damage due to a plugged city sewer line.
According to the report of John Klostermann, Street & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor,
Mr. Klostermann initially recommended this claim to be denied on April 9, 2006, and the
denial was approved by the City Council at the May 1, 2006 City Council meeting. That
recommendation was based on records that indicated there had not been a request for
service in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue since 1998.
The Claimant then submitted a request at the June 5, 2006 City Council meeting for the
City Council to reconsider her claim. After receiving claimant's request, Mr.
Klostermann researched the sanitary sewer inspection file and found a report dated
February 18, 1997 which indicated the manhole located on Lincoln Avenue at Stanton
Street was in poor condition and had roots in the bottom of the manhole at the time of
the inspection. Since the March 31, 2006 backup, the defective manhole has been
replaced and a section of pipe on Lincoln Avenue has been repaired.
Therefore, based on the new information found in the February 18, 1997 report, it is Mr.
Klostermann's recommendation to approve this claim as filed for the amount of $202.23.
The Legal Department concurs with this recommendation.
BAUls
cc: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
John Klostermann, Street & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
Leanne Horsfall
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY DUBUQUE, IOWA
SUITE 330, HARBOR VIEW PLACE, 300 MAIN STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6944
TELEPHONE (563) 583-4113/ FAX (563) 583-1040/ EMAIL balesq@cityofdubuque.org