A former city commissioner in Bismarck has filed a complaint with the North Dakota Department of Health accusing the city of neglecting to address sewer wastewater and storm water problems on the city’s south side for decades.
A June 28 petition with Steve Schwab’s letter was signed by more than 40 residents, The Bismarck Tribune reported.
Schwab said inadequate infrastructure has damaged buildings and created health concerns. He wants the city to find a solution.
“Despite numerous complaints to the city, and news video broadcasts of the flooding, the city chooses to ignore the problem and the effects it has on residential dwellings and businesses,” Schwab said in the complaint. “Due to the city of Bismarck’s negligence, the situation has deteriorated over the years to such an extent is has now become a full-blown health and environmental hazard.”
In a response, city officials said July 1 that flooding is an ongoing concern that’s being addressed, but dispute sewage is an issue.
“It may be possible that residents are seeing surcharge to the storm sewer system which can cause water to come out of storm water manholes and mistaking this for a sanitary sewer overflow,” said Michelle Klose, Bismarck Public Works’ director of utility operations.
The health department has no other complaints on file about sewage, according to Karl Rockeman, the agency’s water quality director.
“If there are any specific complaints that come up in the future that would certainly be something we would look into,” Rockeman said.
Klose said the city completed a storm water management plan in 2013 and has nearly finished an update.
Topics Flood Leadership
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