West Jordan’s Sewage Problem – Continued

Yesterday I posted on the West Jordan sewage issue and the move of the city council to help pay for the repair of pipes of several homeowners whose homes unknowingly were dumping raw sewage into the Jordan River.

It seems that our elected officials are hesitating at giving assistance to residents (see my brief commentary on this at the end of the post).

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that now that Mayor David Newton on Tuesday attempted to give the five money from city coffers. That move – it would have been a $17,300 appropriation – was blocked because it wasn’t on the City Council’s agenda.

Councilman Rob Bennett argued that only the City Attorney can determine whether or not “homeowners deserve the compensation”.

The council directed city staff to craft an ordinance to create a fund the city could tap to aid residents, with up to $10,000 each, who have had their homes damaged by sewer backups – but only if those backups were caused by blockages in the city’s main lines. That account would be funded by sewer rates and reach a cap of $100,000 a year.

This move came about as a result of a sewer backup that damaged two homes….that was caused after someone stuffed steel rebar into a sewer line.

Apparently this ordinance provides no help for the five homeowners with unconnected lines, who collectively paid a total of $17,300 to get the lines attached to the proper system.

Residents asked the city to pay for the costs because West Jordan inspectors failed to sign off on those connections more than two decades ago. But the city says the Utah Supreme Court has upheld the Utah Government Immunity Act that protects cities from such liabilities.

But homeowners say the city should foot the bill anyway – or at least contribute to the costs.
City officials feel that if the new fund is opened to these homeowners it will open it up to any private homeowner who has sewer problems.

“I’m really afraid to add the private portion,” said Councilman Kim Rolfe.

So let’s see…….city councils are willing to put forward as much money as is needed to bring big businesses into our towns (cough, cough, WalMart, cough, cough), yet balk and hesitate at assisting its residents?

Something is definitely wrong with this picture.