With spring comes sewer problem

Contributed photo Sludge: Furniture and other items float in sewer water backed up in the family room of Wade and Kerry Starlin last spring. Creston homeowners are concerned the same will happen this year if the city doesnÕt take action before spring rains begin.

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With more than 8 inches of snow on the ground, it may be hard to think spring is near. But, that is just what Roger Jensen reminded Creston City Council during the public forum at Monday’s council meeting. Jensen was one of several Creston homeowners who experienced sewer problems during heavy rain storms last spring, summer and fall. “I’m just curious what, if anything’s, been done about the sewer problem we had last summer,” Jensen asked. Street Department Manager Kevin Kruse said the city had the sewers televised in November and resulting reports have been sent to engineer Forrest Aldrich with Veenstra and Kim Engineering of Des Moines. “Also I’ve done a review myself and wrote down the areas I see that are going to need attention here, probably this next summer,” said Kruse. “What about spring?” Jensen asked. “If you wait too long you’re going to have problems.” Process Kruse explained that once the engineer’s report comes back the city will have to let bids and contracts. “Right now it’s in the hands of the engineer,” Kruse said. “The engineer has to put together a plan. At that time it will go out for bids. It’s just a process the city has to go through in order to do large projects.” Jensen asked if the project will include the area where he lives — 507 N. Chestnut St. “Yes,” said Kruse. “We’ll probably start upstream from you.” In order to relieve some of the congestion in that area of town, the city has previously pumped out excess inflow at a manhole on Summit Street between Chestnut and Cedar streets on more than one occasion. “Can you do that before?” Jensen asked. “When they call for heavy rains, you need to contact whoever to do what you’ve got to do.” Kruse said he must wait for the problem to occur before he can get permission from the Department of Natural Resources to pump the sewer. “We’ll do what we can,” said Kruse. Report Later in the meeting, council members also weighed in on the situation. “How soon is Aldrich going to be back to us with a plan?” asked Councilman Larry Wynn. Kruse said he should hear something this week. “I would like to have a report at the next council meeting so we know what’s going on here,” said Wynn. Councilman Larry Wagner asked what happened with the vehicle that was being considered last fall. “We had a really, really nifty presentation on a beautiful vehicle that could come down and sort of help us out with that stuff,” he said. “Where are we on that? Has anyone discussed that?” Mayor Warren Woods said that proposal is in the finance committee for consideration. “It’s not going away, I guarantee you,” said Woods. “It’s going to have to come before the council eventually.” Priorities Wagner said the finance committee needs to move that discussion up on its agenda. “This is something we need to get moving on,” said Wagner. “It can’t be in the middle and it can’t be on the bottom. This is our infrastructure, and that’s what we’re here to do is fire, police, roads, sewer, water. That’s our main jobs.” Wynn did not disagree, but said the cost of new equipment could be used elsewhere. “The $300,000 should be spent here,” Wynn said, referring to Kruse’s sewer report. “Not on a new truck.” —————— Stephani Finley can be reached at (641) 782-2141 ext. 237 or sfinley@crestonnews.com