1. Sewer Backup at 215 Buttercup LoopJanuary 29, 2007
Jim Patrick
City Manager of Kalispell
City Hall
Kalispell, MT
Dear Jim Patrick,
My name is David Girardot and I live at 215 Buttercup Loop in Kalispell. I have a
serious problem that needs your immediate attention. Recently my neighbor was
installing faoter drains along side of their house and damaged a 4" PVC line running
under ground an their property. The contractor who was installing the drains called the
city and the developer/builder of our homes and asked if it could be a sewer line from
another house. He was told by the city that all sewer lines must stay an the property of
the house the line services and Scott Sladek (the developer of the subdivision and builder
of both houses) told him that the line was an extra line they had ran at one point and to go
ahead and cap the line off or leave it as is. The contractor decided to leave it as is and
back -filled the damaged line.
A couple of days later I had sewage back up in my finished area of my basement. The
contractor was nice enough to came out on a Sunday and excavate the line and tried to
repair it by cutting out the section that was collapsed and inserting a new section that was
held in place with 4" rubber pipe connectors.
Yesterday sewage started to back up into our basement again. This time I called Roto-
rooter out and the service man inspected the pipe and told me that the dirt had settled
around the area of the repair and that the pipe is actually broken because he had found
mud on the end of the snake.
We now have spent over $600 in service calls and the Moto -rooter service man told me it
was only a matter of time before the solid waste would clog the pipe and back up the
sewage into my home again.
I have three children under the age of five and do not know what to do. We purchased
our home believing that the city has building codes to protect us against circumstances
just like this.
The contractor and I called the City Public Works Department to come inspect the
situation. They informed us by inserting a camera into the main line that my septic line
was run across my property and across the neighbor's property where the two lines are
connected together and then run to the sewer main. They also informed me that this is a
violation of city building codes.
A short time later I received a letter from the City Public Works Department that I was
responsible to pay to have the line moved back on to my property and connected to the
main. I have talked to a couple of contractors and have been told that the cost could
easily exceed $15,1000. We do not have the money for the work to be done and will likely
have sewage backing up into our house again.
We need help. we currently do not have a house that we feel safe living in. we have
three kids that need to use the bathroom and we do not feel life we can use the facilities
without the risk of sewage backing up. we do not have the money to fix the problem and
did not create the problem.
Please note the attached letter from the Public works Department. Your immediate
attention to this problem would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
David Girardot
Home 756-1461
Work 751-4327
Cell 212-0112
CC** Mayor of Kalispell
Kalispell City Council Members
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Post Office Box 1 997, Kalispell, Montana 593-1997 - Telephone 4�55-7720
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October 20, 2006
Mr, & Mrs. Dav(p (jirardot
215 Buttercup Lc�.op
Kalispell, MT 5"01
RE: Illegal Sewer Connection for 215 Buttercup I oop
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Chrardot,
During an ernergetacy call -out for 219 Buttercup Loop it was discovered that the surer service
line for your home at 215 Buttercup loop is conned.oted to the sewer service 111"ie for 219 Buttercup
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Loop. City utility rules and regulations require ea'h property e to have a separz�,6 sewer and water
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connection.
At the time yob ,tr home was constructed it appeaxs that the builder failed to it`lstall a separate
service tap for your parcel and instead made an improper connection to the c&rvice "Y" for 219
Buttercup. w�J do not know why this was done because all the proper conne#ction fees were paid
for your property and also for the property at'19 Buttercup.
This condition must be corrected as soon as possible by installing a separates service into the
main to serve your property. No additional connection fees are required because all were paid at
the time thcu. original work was done. This xfvork must be done by a licensedt plumber and
inspected by the City before closure of the excavation.
I have ene�losed a copy of the diagram prepared by our Sewer Division which shows what has
taken place. If you have any questions 01� concerns, please feel free to call our office at 75 8-7720
and we -ill be glad to assist you.
Sincere y.
Barbara Sullivan
Administrative Coordinator
cc: City Attorney