indiana territory

KENDALLVILLE - $1,000

Well, if you want to get a bill for $1,000 just have a leak develop where the pipe from the main to your house is interrupted by the place where the city installed the turn-off valve. In many cases a flare connection was used which stretched, thinned and therefore weakened the copper pipe that leads to the house. Now bury it deep in the ground for oh, who knows, how many years and then when the pipe fails because it was thinned by the installers for the city, you, not Kendallville, will be required to fix it. Strawser Brothers did it for ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. I have a short length of new pipe and a refilled hole that cost ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

The letter I received from Kendallville said that the homeowner is responsible for the pipe, never mind that I'm certain the homeowners were not consulted when it was first installed, using the thinning copper method. Nevermind that I did nothing but mow the parkway above it; nevermind that Riley Street was widened and that the city-ordered sidewalk replacement was done; never mind that the road builders and sidewalk people parked their heavy equipment on the parkway.

I don't think this is fair.

When I inquired at the water department about a ballpark figure, I was told they had no idea since a private contractor would have to be hired by me. Well, to be really, really honest, I think it is probable that a figure such as ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS for a hole and a short pipe replacement is something that they would have heard about.

The quote given me by the contractor was $900-1,000 and I imagined a trench going all the way to the house. No, it was a hole - about the size of a grave - and plumbing work; took about two hours. I thought, hey, I'm lucky - a hole and a basic pipe repair - that's probably a lot less.

Well, no. It was ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Do you have a house connected to Kendallville water? Hey, you may have a thinned pipe and a leak in the making - and you may have to pay ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. Now, if you lived in another town, most other towns, the contractor told me the town would pay for it.

Sheeesh.

posted by Jody @ 10:58 AM