Boulder Being A 'Good Neighbor,' Covers Claims After Massive Water Main Break
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - Boulder city leaders have decided to cover a portion of homeowners' claims following a water main break on Norwood Avenue earlier this year, despite saying the city is not legally liable for the damage.
On Feb. 15, a pipe burst at the intersection of Norwood Avenue and Cress Court, sending water rushing downhill. At least nine homes on Norwood and Oak avenues were flooded.
Since then city staff have been working on settling more than a half dozen damage claims submitted by homeowners who say the flooding ruined their basement flooring, drywall, furnaces, and water heaters. Because the city charter requires council approval for claims exceeding $10,000, the owners of three separate homes, with the most significant damage, have been waiting in limbo to see whether the city would cover their bills.
In limbo -- until Tuesday, when city council voted in favor of moving forward with the settlements, and agreed to pay out the majority of the largest claims.
Carla Graubard, who says the cost of repairing her flooded basement on Norwood Avenue totals more than the $37,000 claim she submitted, is pleased with the council's decision. She'll receive more than $26,000.
"I would have liked to get more, but as I said last night, I think this is a generous amount," Graubard said. "I'm pleased that they were willing to engage and entertain without having to do anything more litigious."
City spokeswoman Sarah Huntley says while the decision is not intended to set a precedent, the council wanted to make sure the city is being a "good neighbor."
"The concern was that this is an area where we need to have more discussion and explore the options," Huntley said. "In the meantime, you have these people from this fairly significant incident who have bills coming in to their mailbox."
Council still needs to decide how it will handle future water and sewer claims. Huntley says leaders recently scrapped a proposed idea to assess an additional fee and create a new fund to cover claims, in favor of discussing potential changes to its ordinance, or the creation of a new ordinance, at a meeting in July. Council could decide to continue handling large claims on a case-by-case basis.
Lauren DiSpirito is CBS4's Northern Newsroom reporter. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.
