By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
The Lake Orion Village Council is entertaining a partnership that would offer citizens an insurance option for a potential problem not many know they’re responsible for fixing.
On Monday, March 9, Village Council members listened to a presentation from National League of Cities (NLC) that offers insurance to village residents for their water and sewer lines.
In the event a resident’s water or sewer was damaged outside of their home, this insurance plan would cover the cost of repair up to $4,000. That top out amount is set because according to their regional account manager, Mike Chambers, that amount is above 99 percent of the claims made.
‘The United States is just getting older and older especially when it comes to water and sewer lines,? Chambers said. ‘But there are miles and miles of residential mains that are not accounted for.?
According to Village Manager Darwin McClary, the homeowner is responsible for water line repairs from the homeowner’s residence to the curb stop; and sewer repairs up to the connection to the main.
The proposed monthly rate, if the resident decides to buy, would cost village residents $5.75 a month for their water line and $7.75 a month for their sewer line. If paid in full for the year, the NLC would discount the cost by 10 percent.
If a repair is needed, the NLC will partner with local repair professionals and contractors to mitigate a solution. Chambers says the NLC program would cover anything from a sewer line cleaning all the way up to a complete replacement.
‘We want to partner with these local contractors to make sure the dollars and cents stay in your community,? Chambers said. ‘We pull permits and make sure your system is strengthened.?
Currently 15 cities in Michigan participate in the program including Berkley, Pleasant Ridge, Roseville, and Saint Clare Shores.
The Village of Lake Orion would see no cost to partner with the NLC nor will it be liable for any insurance claims made by village residents to the NLC. The Village’s only involvement would be to assist the NLC in distribution of informational material.
This insurance program proposal comes after a village resident had to repair her sewer that, unbeknownst to her, descended into the ground to a depth of 20 feet. She had to pay approximately $18,000 in repairs in Dec. 2014.