Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Steve Ward was back before the town council to continue a sewage backup problem discussion he began at last month's meeting.
With Ward was his wife, Sue. The couple found water standing in their basement May 17. At the August meeting Ward described the water as sewage. He asked that the town reimburse him for the cleanup.
Town council members explained then that they had no provision to pay for such cleanup if the problem, indeed, rested with the town.
Ward said town supervisor Marshall Minnick indicated in a telephone conversation that the town would take care of expenses. Minnick did not attend the August meeting.
In a report to the Wards and the town council dated Sept. 5, Minnick gave a four-page document covering the morning and afternoon events of May 17 as noted by town employees and himself.
He began the correspondence by chastising the Wards for bringing their concern to a public meeting "to discuss this matter in front of the media." He called the local press inaccurate and extremely irresponsible, especially regarding the August meeting stories.
Minnick's report described the liquid in the Ward basement as "clean water," "considered to be clear water to us because it has no solids and no odor even if it did come from a sewer line."
"There was no sewage," Minnick said.
Sue Ward presented photographs and documentation from the cleanup company, Lee Restoration, showing liquid in her basement suspending feces and toilet paper.
Her husband also said the newspapers' reports were accurate in describing the discussion held during the August meeting.
The Wards allowed that the water was backup from their own use: the toilet, the washer and the shower. However, their operational back flow valve failed to stop the rush of water.
"We had to get it cleaned up," Steve said. "We didn't turn in the bill to our insurance company until August because we were under the assumption it would be taken care of."
After a short, heated exchange between Minnick and the Wards, board president Kay Andrews advised the couple that an ordinance had been drafted pertaining to such matters.
"This is a very unfortunate incident," Andrews said. "We never give anyone carte blanc to hire a contractor saying we will pay the bills. To avoid this unpleasantness and to assure homeowners they will be taken care of, we've had this ordinance drafted."
The ordinance indicates that a fund will be set up to pay for future incidents like the Wards'. An unspecified amount would apply toward a homeowner's insurance deductible after the insurance company has made payment.
Andrews said the ordinance could be ready for passage at the October meeting and that the Wards' deductible bill is under review.
In other business the board:
• Read correspondence from the U.S.Post Office saying the location of the future North Webster Post Office will be at the former North Webster Hotel site.
• Agreed to waive the tap-on fee for the Habitat for Humanities home under construction north of the North Webster Methodist Church, as requested by the Kosciusko County Habitat for Humanities board.
• Approved Ordinance 2000-02 regarding dogs in the North Webster Park. The ordinance states dogs must be on leashes and controlled and not in the water when swimmers are in the water.
• Heard from Minnick regarding a sewer line extension to about 10 undeveloped lots on Effie May, Tanya Avenue and Blaine Street, east of the proposed middle school. Minnick indicated the installation would cost about $30,000. The board said it would decide on the matter at the next meeting.
• Heard from park director Terri Pawlosky that the park is closed for the season. She heard from Minnick that the junior auxiliary of the American Legion and the Builders Club at the middle school were interested in volunteering to help clean up the park.
• Set the next meeting for Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
North Webster town council members are Andrews, Ken Wagoner and Jeff Morgan.
