While Alma city officials continue to work to relieve the ongoing city-wide sewer problem, the city’s attorney, Charles Fortino will be negotiating with some individuals who have filed claims with the city for compensation.

At issue are residents who have improper connections to the city’s sanitary sewer system and the resulting flooding that occurs when the area receives heavy rains.

At one time storm water could drain into sanitary sewer systems. Then a federal law made that type of connection illegal. The law said that storm water systems had to be separate from sanitary sewers. Many homes in the area remain improperly connected. When heavy rains hit the area, local sanitary sewers cannot handle the excess draining and basements flood.

Residents have been battling basement flooding for years and the problem appears to be getting worse.

After a “rain incident” last April left many homeowners with flooded basements the city started the preliminary steps to get low cost funding through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to be able to assist homeowners in properly connecting to storm water systems.

In the meantime six city residents have filed claims with the city for compensation for damages caused by flooded basements.

While the city is maintaining they are not responsible for the flooding, they are willing to negotiate with the property owners for some type of settlement.

The property owners claim the city’s system is defective; however city officials maintain the problem lies with the improper connections to the system.

“We want to do what is best for the citizens,” Fortino said. “It is our hope that if we negotiate with these residents they will use the money to finance the cost of proper connections to the city’s storm water system.”

Fortino said the cost of going to court and arguing the case would be equal to, or greater than the cost of working out a negotiation. He added that it might be possible that other people might have claims against the city but noted that bringing them forth eight months after the damage occurred would not be looked upon favorably.

Fortino noted that there is no insurance coverage available for this type of event so the settlement money will come from the city’s sewer fund.

“Everyone will be paying for this,” Fortino said.

The city will be negotiating for the cost of damages or $2,000, whichever amount is lower.

Last summer the city approved spending $83,000 for a sewer study, which is a required step in the process of working with the DEQ for the low-interest loans.

The city hired Rowe Inc., to complete the survey, which is scheduled to end this month.

The study included inspecting homes for improper storm water connections. From January 2010 to June 2010 the city will be devising a plan of action and in June 2010 the city will apply for the grant. The state will notify the city of the awards in October of 2010 and if all goes as planned the project can begin in the first quarter of 2011.

Without the low interest loans from the city, property owners would see almost double increases in their sewer bills. City manager Phil Moore said the project would prevent the problem from becoming a city-wide issue.