Residents report repeated sewer backups; council told city will supply records for pending claims

Several residents told the Council Bluffs City Council they have experienced repeated sanitary-sewer backups and basement flooding in a low-lying neighborhood near North 30th Street.

Bailey Smith, a first-time homeowner, said a sewer backup on March 10 required a $15,000 sewer-line replacement and a $3,925 mitigation expense after she declined to file a homeowner claim she feared would raise her insurance rates. She said the city’s jet crew found the public sewer “so backed up” that only a few inches of pipe were visible.

“Why was the city sewer not maintained to the point where it clogged our entire neighborhood?” Smith asked, adding she had requested maintenance records and was told there is a $205.74 fee to obtain them.

Ben Osman, who lives on North 30th Street, said the street has flooded repeatedly since 2011 and that city crews have jetted the line periodically. City staff said public works has serviced the low area more often than typical zones and that the department has compiled maintenance activity and is prepared to provide records; the department estimated the staff-time cost to assemble records at roughly $200.

Councilmembers expressed sympathy and urged claimants to work with the city’s legal department and public-works staff. The mayor stated that case law limits municipal liability unless the city is aware of a dangerous condition and negligent in its response; city staff said they had logged multiple service contacts and jetting in the area but that the specific backup that damaged Smith’s home had not been previously documented to the city as an ongoing system failure.

Smith said she had opened a claim with the city and remained in contact with city staff about next steps; councilmembers did not vote on policy changes at the meeting.