Our neighbors to the north of our adjoining townhouses were one of the families who lost City water service because their water line from the street to their house froze up due to the extremely cold temperatures and lack of snow cover. The City was going to have to dig up the street and the frozen water service line, somehow 'un-freeze' it and bury it back into the ground. In so doing, there would be no 'guarantee' that the water line wouldn't freeze again. Plus, having a company that does this kind of work, in the 'dead of winter, in far sub-zero temperatures would COST HAMBURG TAXPAYERS THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS !! (I believe the figures $5-6000.00 were being 'talked about.)
But wait: Wouldn't there be a more 'practical' way to address this issue and NOT HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS you ask ?? Yes there was, and I came up with the answer.
Because our utility rooms were 'back-to-back', it would be a simple matter to interconnect their water supply plumbing to ours (we didn't freeze up) so they could have 'normal' city water service, only it would be coming directly from our house because it couldn't come from the street due to their water service line being frozen.
And that's what happened: The city agreed to pay for a plumber to come and 'interconnect' the neighbors plumbing to our water supply. As a result, they could have water for cooking, wash clothes, run the dishwasher, take showers; everything they could do BEFORE their water line froze up !!
So, INSTEAD of TAXPAYERS having to pay THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS to 'get the neighbors water running again', we did so for SUBSTANTIALLY LESS; (probably $200.00 or less.) Then, 'in the spring' when the ground thawed out, the City's water line would similarly thaw out and everything would be back to normal and the City would pay to have the plumbing company return to our home and disconnect the neighbor's plumbing from our City water supply.
Sounded like an 'ideal plan'; and remember, this was in the WINTER of EARLY 2014 !!
Fast forward to.MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS LATER:
Delta Dick <thedeltashow@gmail.com>
Mon, Aug 9, 2021, 5:42 AM
to Jeremy
Jeremy,
You'll recall when I was a City Council Member, the City was having issues one winter with water service lines freezing up due to the lack of snow cover and the extended period of sub-zero temperatures.
The property at 152 Jacob, owned by our neighbors, Greg Peterson/Marilyn Wilson, was one of the properties whose water service line froze up.
You'll further recall that instead of the City spending thousands and thousands of dollars digging up Jacob Street as well as the Peterson/Wilson property to resolve their issue, I suggested that, instead; as our incoming water service lines shared a common wall, the City retain a plumber to temporarily connect their property water supply to our (flowing) water service service line to provide them with City water service.
As you are aware, that 'concept' that I came up with provided City water service to their property, didn't require Jacob Street, or their property to be dug up, thereby saving Hamburg residents several thousand of their hard-earned, precious Hamburg Taxpayer dollars.
While that 'temporary fix' worked well, served its intended purpose, allowed us to accommodate our neighbors in their the unfortunate situation and saved Hamburg residents thousands of dollars as well, while it is no longer necessary, it is still connected, several years later.
While this hasn't been a problem to this point, I see by reviewing the City Council Meeting Agenda for August 10th (tomorrow), a variance has been requested to the properties involved at 152 and 154 Jacob Street.
It is my understanding that if the variance is approved, the current ownership of the property at 152 Jacob Street is eventually going to be relinquished by Mr. Peterson and Ms. Wilson to Ms. Wilson's son, Zachary Wilson.
In view of this fact, I request that the 'temporary 'fix' that was installed several years ago that allowed water to be supplied from our water service at 150 Jacob to the property at 152 Jacob Street, be removed at a time mutually convenient to the ownership of both properties and at no expense to the property owners of either property.
While this request is NOT immediate in nature, it being completed in a timely fashion will be appreciated. A copy of this e-mail has/will be provided to Mr. Peterson and Ms. Wilson.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
Richard Odoms
150 Jacob Street
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
To which I received the following reply:
Jeremy Gruenhagen <cityadmin@cityofhamburgmn.com>
Mon, Aug 9, 2021, 9:44 AM
to me
Mr. Odoms,
I will add this to the Agenda for the August 10th meeting.
Jeremy Gruenhagen
City Clerk-Treasurer
P.O. Box 248
181 Broadway Avenue
Hamburg, MN 55339
952-467-3232
NOTHING 'HAPPENED' !!
And EVEN THOUGH (now deceased) Councilmember brought this matter up again prior to his death (in December 2021) STILL NOTHING WAS DONE !!
Now, MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS LATER, I received the following e-maIL:
Jeremy Gruenhagen
Mon, Jun 6, 2:48 PM (7 days ago)
to Richard
Mr. Odoms,
I looking to Have Hilgers Heating and Plumbing come and disconnect the Wilson/Peterson Water Line from yours on Wed. morning at 10:00 AM. Are you available on Wed. morning at 10:00 if they would need access to your side of the townhome?
Thanks & Have a Great Day,
Jeremy Gruenhagen
City Clerk-Treasurer
P.O. Box 248
181 Broadway Avenue
Hamburg, MN 55339
952-467-3232
To which I replied:
Delta <thedeltashow@gmail.com>
Mon, Jun 6, 6:04 PM (7 days ago)
to Jeremy
10AM will work for us PROVIDED he ‘starts’ at our property FIRST as we have to be at Methodist Hospital at 1:30PM Wednesday.
That shouldn’t be a problem as he has to SHUT OFF our water at the meter BEFORE he can do anything at the neighboring property.
After the plumber left, I sent the City the following e-mail:
In addition with my idea and thereby saving the City Taxpayers about $5-6000.00 to dig up the frozen ground by using my novel concept to keep water available to 152 Jacob Street, I find that it is truly unimaginable that it has taken the City OVER EIGHT YEARS to restore the 'temporary fix' that we agreed to back in March 2014 !!
And today, it was NOT restored to as it originally was; which was our agreement with the City.
I met the plumber upon his arrival at 10:25AM Wednesday morning and told him what needed to be done; restore our city water service to the way it originally was back in March 2014. That (wrongly) led me to believe that he knew what would have to be removed and what would be required to 'put things back' the way they originally were, without me having to stand there and 'watch him'. (He stated that he was the plumber that made the 'temporary hookup' when the water service line of the occupants of 152 Jacob Street froze during that severe 'cold snap'.)
I was wrong.
And, without my knowing it and without even saying anything, he was gone; before I realized it; without even so much as a 'good bye'.
I went and looked at what he had done; NOT the way it was originally. (See attached photo.) The two sections of plastic tubing that were installed eight years ago, are STILL THERE, CONNECTED to our water service and just simply "capped' !!
Because I had an appointment to be at Methodist Hospital yesterday, I didn't have time to send this e-mail; hence you're getting it this morning.
The plumber has to come back and REMOVE ALL of the 'temporary' plastic tubing and REPLACE it with ALL copper; like it was when we took occupancy in March 2007.
Knowing what previously took place and combined with this e-mail and attached photos, I think it's a 'fair statement' to say that YOU, or any prudent person, would agree; it's NOT back to the way it was; and as agreed upon.
Thank you.
Richard Odoms
150 Jacob Street
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
After a few more e-mail exchanges, here's 'where we're at':
Jeremy Gruenhagen
Thu, Jun 9, 3:04 PM (4 days ago)
to me
Mr. Odoms,
Hilgers Heating and Plumbing will be out on Monday morning to complete the work!
Jeremy Gruenhagen
City Clerk-Treasurer
P.O. Box 248
181 Broadway Avenue
Hamburg, MN 55339
952-467-3232
We've been waiting for EIGHT YEARS !!
An 'efficiency expert' would have a FIELD DAY assessing the City's efficiency !! (Or LACK thereof !!)
So, today; June 13, 2022, we'll see what happens !!!
They showed up at 10:10AM, and the City Clerk/Treasurer stopped by in person. The following message was sent to him:
Delta <thedeltashow@gmail.com>
10:55 AM (4 minutes ago)
to Jeremy
The personable 'older 'gentleman that arrived along with the plumber at 10:10 this morning 'surveyed' the situation and stated that 'PEX' is superior to copper.
As he's the expert, I'll 'go along with what he recommends. However, he did remove the excess length of 'PEX' that remained from last week; he
agreed that it would interfere with the replacement of our existing water heater (which is probably due to happen at any time; it's 15 years old;
far beyond it's expended 'life').
So yes; we're satisfied.
Also, thanks for your cordial, 'in person 'followup'. It's three years since I've personally seen or talked with you; and you haven't 'changed'.
Hopefully, after this fall's election, some of your 'bosses' will.
BE SAFE and STAY COOL !!
Richard Odoms
150 Jacob Street
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
