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Resident urges council to review sewer backup and mitigation billing; city schedules follow-up
Summary
A Rolla resident told council her basement suffered a sewage backup; she said city staff initially indicated the city was responsible, mitigation proceeded, and an insurer denied the claim — the council said the matter likely requires closed-session legal review and will follow up.
A Rolla resident, Kristen Williams of 36 South Murray Lane, told the council during citizen communications that a sewer backup on May 7 flooded her finished basement with sewage, causing extensive damage and mitigation work. She said she and contractors sought city assistance the night of the event and that city public-works personnel responded; she said the mitigation contractor TRICAT was authorized to proceed but that her insurer later denied coverage related to the city’s role, leaving her with bills presented to the city totaling roughly $52,000 for mitigation costs.
Williams said she was told by a public-works superintendent (named in the transcript) that the city was at fault and that mitigation work could proceed; she said later communications disputed that account and that she had now retained counsel. Council members said the matter may have legal implications and suggested discussing it in closed session; the mayor and staff said they would put the issue on the next meeting agenda for a closed-session discussion with legal counsel.
Council did not take public action on the citizen’s complaint at the meeting; staff noted possible legal and contractual issues and moved to handle the matter through the appropriate internal and legal channels.
