Resident says city sewer relining led to broken private line; city to review claim

At the March 24 meeting of the Fayette Board of Aldermen, resident Hank Hilderbrand told board members that repeated sewer backups at his home at 319 S. Main Street followed a 2024 tie-in to the city's relined sewer main and that he spent roughly $6,500 to replace his private sewer line.

Hilderbrand said city crews tied his service into the main sewer in the summer of 2024. About eight months later he experienced a backup that required jetted cleaning; another backup followed eight months after that. A camera inspection, he said, showed a broken clay tile pipe on his property, and several plumbers who attempted to snake the line were unable to do so, which Hilderbrand attributed to the lining in the main sewer obstructing the connection.

Mayor Greg Stidham told the board Hilderbrand’s account will be reviewed further: the city will consult its insurance broker and reach out to the contractor and the company responsible for the inspection to determine responsibility and next steps.

The statement to the Board did not include an immediate request for a specific remedy or payment plan; Hilderbrand said he spent approximately $6,500 on the replacement and believes the damage was caused by the earlier failure to connect his service properly during the city's sewer relining. The board did not take a formal vote at the meeting on the claim, and no payment or liability determination was made. The mayor’s office and city staff indicated they will investigate and report back to the Board.