A village attorney told Haven Avenue residents Wednesday night that finding a solution to their flooding problems may be complicated because a private company runs the town sewer system.
“The problem here is this board doesn’t have control (over Citizens Utility),” attorney Mark Sterk told residents distressed by sewer backups during last month’s record rains.
But Bill Kuzia, assistant general manager for Citizens Utility, said although the company understands how traumatic a flood is to residents, “the fact is, this was a storm water problem, not a sanitary-sewer problem.” He said the village is responsible for the storm water system. He added that with July 17-18 record rainfall and so much standing water, it is possible that homeowners’ pipes may have contributed to contamination in the water.
Still, owners of flooded homes on Haven Avenue told the Village Board they simply wanted the problem solved.
Storm water is not as bad a problem as contaminated water, resident Todd Dawson said.
“It wasn’t just water. It was human waste (coming into the basement),” said Dawson’s wife, Julie.
Kuzia said that a representative from Citizens Utility is expected to attend a town hall meeting Mayor Kyle Hastings is planning for flood victims.
