LOGAN — Choose your descriptor: an “embarrassment,” a “catastrophe,” said Councilman Jim Robinson about the ongoing sewer situation at Orchard and Culver Street.
The stalled sewer project received another airing of grievances at Tuesday night’s meeting of city council, from residents, landowners, and city officials themselves.
Lucas Noice of North Culver, who had said at the previous city council meeting that his apartment suffered from an unexpected sewage backup, showed up again to report “more issues than immediately apparent,” including damage to items of personal significance.
Noice had in tow extensive documentation of costs incurred, which he said he submitted to the city’s water and sewer department for review.
His landlord, Kyle Dilley, accompanied him to the meeting. According to Dilley, one of Noice’s neighbors was not fortunate enough to be home during the sewage backup incident, and dealt with six inches of standing water in his apartment when he showed up. The landlord cited $40,000 in costs to fix immediate damage to the unit.
Michael Hunter of North Orchard Street was also in attendance Tuesday, after apparently being shown photos taken by Logan’s water and sewer department of substantial gaps in newly-installed sewer mainlines. He called this, more than an “inconvenience,” a “significant safety, health, and environmental hazard.”
The project, which began in November last year, has been carried out by the contractor Rock River Construction, who did not respond to request for comment by press time. The work has been overseen by multiple different inspectors with the engineering firm DLZ.
DLZ’s Gary Silcott was present at Tuesday’s meeting, which ended in an executive session to discuss “imminent legal action.”
Also at the city council meeting was Logan’s water and sewer foreman, Eddie Ogle, who presented a slideshow of damage allegedly caused by Rock River.
At face value, the presentation did not reflect well on the contractor.
Amid the allegations were damage to utility poles caused by “careless digging” with a backhoe; multiple street plates, “properly installed, if you’re blind”; significant damage to underground utilities and electrical wiring; inadequate backfill, often stacked with asphalt, with sizable holes left in the ground; one particular segment of sewer main, over 26 feet long, left disconnected and flooded with sewage and storm water; significant unpaid bills for temporary fixes made by the water and sewer department; “standing around and doing nothing, their favorite pastime”; and more.
Ogle was asked by Councilwoman Judie Henniger why Rock River has been able to continue its work, around seven months into an 18-month job still “barely 15% complete,” according to the foreman.
“When you pull a company’s bond it can become a huge nightmare” of legalities, Ogle said, with work left unfinished and no replacement on hand to complete it. “We’ve kept on twisting their arm, hoping a light might go off, but I don’t think there’s any electric up there,” he added.
The only piece of legislation in Tuesday’s meeting, passed unanimously and without hesitation, was a $100,000 appropriation in the sewer fund toward immediate relief for residents and landowners affected financially by the project. Councilman Robinson noted that the city will be looking to claim restitution for these allocated funds.
Those looking to apply for relief can inquire with the mayor’s office at 740-385-8310, or the service director at 740-385-4060.
It’s a “kind gesture,” remarked Council President Ed Tucker after it was passed.
“No, it’s a necessary one,” replied Robinson.
Email at rmorris@logandaily.com
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