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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend January 15, 2007 City hopes sewer fix eases Corona Avenue backflow Neighbors plagued last year with sewage overflow take a wait-and-see posture on city work By Meg Landers Mail Tribune A year after raw sewage bubbled up inside half a dozen homes on Corona Avenue, the city's public works department is keeping its fingers crossed that it has fixed the neighborhood's sewer line capacity problem. Some residents remain skeptical. Prompted by heavy rainfall resulting in backed up sewer lines in December 2005, the public works department bumped a sewer line project higher up on its to-do list. "This is the worst situation that we've had," said Larry Beskow, city engineer. "We didn't want them (the Corona residents) to go through that again." Beskow said the city developed a plan to replace 900 feet of 14- and 15-inch sewer line on Morrow Road with 21-inch line to eliminate Corona's overflow problem. Then in September city engineers realized they needed a more immediate fix. Advertisement "It was apparent we weren't going to have this completed by the time the winter rains came," he said. So public works devised a connection from the Corona system, draining it down a larger pipe on Hilton Road. Inspection during recent heavy rains showed the connection is working — so far. "That cut-off actually carried sewage that would have backed up into people's houses," said Public Works Director Cory Crebbin. He said he can't guarantee the problem is resolved because while it raised the threshhold for what the Corona system can handle, engineers don't know by how much. Beskow said the heaviest rainfall so far this winter was 1.2 inches in a 24-hour period, while the rain last year peaked at 3 inches in 24 hours. Hazel Parker and Loraine Blakey, each of whom own houses on Corona Avenue that had sewage coming up toilets and shower drains last winter, say they'll believe it when they see it — or don't see it. "It's too soon to know," said Blakey, adding that so far heavy rains haven't hit. Parker said she's complained to the city about this problem for 25 years, with sewage bubbling into her home five times. Both neighbors have filed claims of $1,000 or more for cleanup from last year's rains with the city, but the city's insurance company has denied the claims, they said. Blakey said she hadn't heard about the work done on the sewer line. "I'm glad they did something," she said. "I'm still mad they didn't pay my bill. They (the insurance company) denied it." City Attorney John Huttl said claims are turned over to the city's insurance company. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com