WINONA LAKE - Sewers and drainage dominated the town council meeting Tuesday, with a former resident complaining about the lack thereof, and Robson Road residents wanting to stop plans for the service.

Former Winona Lake resident Sarah Longacre appeared before the council requesting their assistance in her pursuit of an insurance claim against a Winona Lake landlord.

"I want the town council to give me something in writing about what was wrong with the sewer at 1108 W. Canal St.," Longacre said. "I'm trying to get the insurance company of my former landlord to pay for the medical bills we incurred because my daughter was made ill by having no sewer hooked up at that house.

"I've asked Mr. (Dick) Leaf and Mr. (Kim) Endicott for information on what was wrong with the sewers at that house, and why, through the town's negligence, my daughter was made ill from having to breathe methane gas and natural gas," she added.

Council president Brent Wilcoxson said the sewer line from the house to the town's sewer line was the responsibility of the property owner, and that the town has no responsibility for any problems with those lines.

"Obviously, our defensive hackles go up when we hear about negligence on our part," he said. "Our responsibility ends at the property line. It's the property owner's responsibility to run the line from the house to the town's line."

Wilcoxson did commit to provide information the town has on what work city employees did to correct any problems at the property, but under the advice of town attorney Jim Walmer, said any information would not assign responsibility for those problems.

"That there was a problem and what the town did to correct that problem are facts we can provide," Walmer said. "As to who is responsible for the problem, that is a finding of fact that is up to a judge or a jury, and the town cannot makes any representations of that sort."

Looking to stop the planned extension of sewer service to the Robson Road area, several resident along the road appeared before the council to request the project be delayed until they can meet with town officials over the cost and the need for extending sewer service to the 15 existing homes and 20 buildable lots along the road.

"Several residents are concerned with the cost of the project and the effect it will have on the residents along Robson Road," said Ed VanOsdol, 601 Robson Road. Sixteen residents are asking for a delay in the project until the residents can meet with the board to discuss the need to continue.

"Right now, there are only one or two people having problems with their septic systems, But I just put a new septic system in in the last six months," VanOsdol added.

If the project moves ahead, the property owners on Robson Road would be charged approximately $6,600 each to connect to the system.

Wilcoxson agreed that if the residents of Robson Road don't want the sewer line installed, the town would be amenable to postponing the project.

"Obviously, the town could find other uses for the $130,000 if the residents there don't want the sewers," he said.

The council will meet with the Robson Road residents at noon April 22 in the community building. As a result, the board tabled a motion to award the Robson Road sewer project until after the meeting with residents. [[In-content Ad]]