Agenda - Council - 05/27/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CASE DRAINAGE CONCERN - 6508 - 171ST LANE NW By: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer Background: At the Council meeting of April 8, 1997, Lori Farber, of 6508 - 171st Lane NW, appeared during the Citizen's Input portion of the meeting to discuss a problem with her septic system for which she felt the City was responsible. Her contention was that the City had not adequately provided for the drainage of 171st Lane, and additionally had permitted the neighboring property to the west to construct a single-family home which caused water to pond over her septic system and flow back in the basement of her house. At the Council meeting of April 22, 1997, staff reviewed the situation and advised Council that the elimination of the reoccurring backups would require the relocation of her septic absorption field to an area which was not subject to flooding. Council directed Attorney Goodrich and me to meet with Mrs. Farber and propose a resolution to this issue. Attorney Goodrich and I met with Mrs. Farber and her attorney on April 29, 1997. Staff agreed that re-ditching and adding culverts to redirect drainage from her system may assist in alleviation of her problem, but would not assure the elimination of her backup problems under all conditions. Relocation of the system would accomplish that objective. At the April 29 meeting, the City offered to perform re- ditching and add a culvert beneath 171st Lane to redirect drainage from the septic field under the condition that the property owner would make no further requests of the City in this matter. Alternatively, an offer was extended to contribute $2,000 toward the relocation of her system, since that amount would be incurred by the City in making the drainage modifications. Mrs. Farber and her attorney accepted neither of these offers but requested time to think over the offer. The City additionally offered to have the system inspected by a State-certified septic system inspector to assist in their decision making. Mrs. Farber agreed, and an inspection was performed on May 5, 1997. The inspection report is attached. As you can see from the report, the inspector reported the system to be in failure, with evidence of past discharges of sewage to the ground surface and less than three feet of vertical separation from saturated soils. Additional conversation with the inspector indicated that effluent boiled to the ground surface when the soil absorption field was probed. This occurred during dry weather. Recommendation: In light of this septic system inspection, it is apparent that the system was in failure and should be replaced. Re-ditching should not be undertaken as it may allow seepage from the septic system into the ditch, creating an increased health hazard. Staff is also concerned about the precedent that would be set by making a contribution toward replacing a failed system. For this reason, we are recommending that Council not offer to participate financially in the replacement of this system. In future situations, such as this, the City should require an inspection by a certified inspector be provided by the property owners. Should the property owner not be able to