2008-11-17 Regular Council Session

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Kelly O’Daniels, 1118 Wilson Ave. Ms. O’Daniels disputed that it was a 100 year flood and stated it happens every five to ten years. She complained of the poor MSD maintenance service also. Ms. O’Daniels said she has talked to many engineers sent out by MSD, suggesting methods to alleviate the flooding but nothing has ever been done since 2005. She stated that since MSD has told her that she owns the River DesPeres adjacent to her property, she will take action to prevent any farther flooding in her house. Ms. O’Daniels said everything in her basement floated up from the water coming from the sewer. She told MSD if they can’t put a date on a letter, they could not expect citizens to know about the thirty day deadline. Ms. O’Daniels asked MSD if she could cancel her service with them. Fareedah Sidqul, 6905 Roberts Ms. Sidqul stated that two months prior to the flooding she had reported obstructions as trees in the River DesPeres. MSD did come out but did nothing. Her backup was through the sewer not from overland, yet MSD sent her a denial letter. She said that someone finally came and cut up the trees but left them in the creek. Fred Eppenberger, 1064 Wilson Ave. Mr. Eppenberger stated the MSD has said it was a 100 plus year rain event but wanted to know their sources supporting it. He did not understand how MSD could state it was a 100 year rain event but had no way of determining a rainfall was coming. He said MSD claimed they did not find any major blockage but he has found silt to a depth of eight to ten feet deep in the creek. Walter Thompson, 1139 Burchland Mr. Thompson called MSD and they told him it was overland flooding. He asked how come he had feces floating in his basement? Darcell Caldwell, 8011 Briar Ct Ms. Caldwell stated that approximately seven months previous, her neighbors had sewer backups when it rained and called MSD to complain. She also told MSD about the water running in the back of their home. MSD put in a source line to prevent backups in other homes. She met Mr. Theerman on October 8 and told him that she had not received her claim form and October 9 she went to MSD downtown to get the claim form. They did not have any form to give her. She then contact Mr. Theerman and he told her she would receive the form and a letter. On October 24, she received the letter which was a rejection notice only, no claim form. Mr. Jeffrey Theerman, Executive Director of MSD responses: Denial is given even when the sewer backs up first and then the overland flooding takes place. Deaths on Wilson was tragic but was not created by MSD MSD is not applying to FEMA for dollars, as public damage was not enough to be covered under FEMA’s guidelines. There are no flood gates or pumps in River DesPeres Asked citizens to appeal their denial letter, if they did not have any overland flooding. Service can not be cancelled.