Rising Tide 2012

continued

Dave Foster appeared at the next council meeting. "I was pleased by their concern," he says. "But when we submitted our claim to the city, they said the drains were up to specifications and the drainage system has no defects and no blockages, so they weren't responsible."

Fisher disagrees: "The storm water system is inadequate, and the footing drain disconnect program has added to the problem," she says. "The city's responsible for the sewers, and they should do something about it." And she says that Jack Eaton, Teall's challenger in the August primary, "seems concerned. He seems to think we shouldn't have to put up with this."

"Our storm water system is beyond its capacity," says Eaton, a labor attorney, "and our infrastructure planning is not out ahead of the problem. Rather than address it they'll tell you it's too expensive to fix. But that's not a good excuse."

Assistant city attorney Abby Elias says otherwise. "The city does not have an obligation to capture and control all water that falls or flows during all rain storms and is not liable for water damage due to a rain storm," she emails.