'Absolute injustice': Sewage spill prompts headache for Prior Lake homeowner

Prior Lake American

Prior Lake resident Matthew Burnhaugh's basement looks nothing like it used to a month after it was flooded with raw sewage.

It used to be a finished basement, complete with a bar area with a wood floor and a den area with carpeting. Now, the basement is nearly empty, with the lower 2 feet of drywall removed.

Burnhaugh was one of four homeowners whose basements were flooded with raw sewage and water after a nearby sanitary sewer line overflowed on July 23 due to an alleged miscommunication between Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and the city of Prior Lake.

Burnhaugh said the response from officials since the flood regarding repairing and restoring his basement has been an "absolute injustice."

"It has just been a disaster," Burnhaugh said. "Literally, our homes were destroyed, at least half of them and nobody cares. It's just excuses."

A sanitary sewer line became inundated on July 23 after maintenance workers at Hidden Oaks Middle School on Fish Point Road in Prior Lake emptied the pool into the line. Emptying the pool is part of yearly routine maintenance.

The area is under construction for the Huron Street and Woodside Road reconstruction project, which includes removing and replacing the street, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water main, according to the city’s website.

As part of the reconstruction, the construction company had rerouted the sanitary sewer line in order to work on a section of the pipe to a bypass line with less capacity.

Prior Lake Public Works Director Jason Wedel said school district staff normally alerts the city about when the pools will be drained, but didn't this year.

Communications Director Kristi Mussman said there is no agreement or ordinance that requires the city be notified when the district is draining the pools.

"In the past PLSAS has made a courtesy call to the City prior to draining the pool but that has not been a requirement from the City," Mussman said. "This summer, that courtesy notification did not take place."

The contractor working on the reconstruction project saw that the line had overflowed and subcontracted another company specializing in water damage to start work on the homes, including vacuuming the carpet, putting in fans and more, but Burnhaugh said that stopped after a few days.

A letter was sent to homeowners that said the city's insurance would not be assisting financially with the repairs, Wedel said.

"It was more of a clarification letter," Wedel said. "In the meantime, the contractor hasn't stopped working. The contractor's insurance is still helping these homeowners with getting their basements fixed. ... Nothing has stopped."

Wedel said the city checks in with the contractor on a weekly basis to ensure progress is being made.

Burnhaugh said three weeks after the sewage flooded his basement, the drywall had been removed. On Aug. 14, the basement was cleaned and sanitized. Burnhaugh said an adjustor from the school district's insurance company came by on the same day to take pictures of the home.

"I asked what the plan was going forward and was told, 'we will report back to our superiors and await further instructions,'" Burnhaugh said. "It's far from over."

Burnhaugh said nothing has been done since Aug. 14. The basement is clean, but empty and two feet of drywall are gone.

"PLSAS is fully cooperating in an effort to help bring resolution to this situation," Mussman said in a statement to the Prior Lake American. "Our insurance company was notified of the situation as soon as possible and continues to investigate the incident."

Burnhaugh said he would hire his own mitigation company and contractors, but doesn't know how he would get reimbursed.

"Everybody has excuses," Burnhaugh said. "My neighbor's house had over a foot of sewage. He just recovered from cancer. He had to carry stuff into his garage to get it out of the house."

Burnhaugh and the other homeowners met with a lawyer on Aug. 13 to discuss the situation. All he wants is his home back, Burnhaugh said.

"We just want our houses back and the work to commence immediately," Burnhaugh said. "The dumpster is still in my driveway smelling horrible and overflowing with furniture from the other houses. ... There's still some demo to be done, but that will require the work of contractors and we can't get that going until we get money from someone."