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City Decides Against Paying Bill for Damage

Macomb, IL – Macomb and its insurance company will not pay for the damage caused to a home by a blocked sewer. Larry and Melanie Rawlins told the city council that raw sewage filled all the rooms on their home's lowest floor in late September. They say the smell permeated all three floors. Larry Rawlins says it cost more than $7,100 to clean up the mess and he thinks the city should pay the bill. But the insurance claim was denied. The city says it had no prior knowledge of the blocked sewer and thus has no liability. The couple then turned to the city council for reimbursement, but aldermen also turned down their request. Aldermen suggested the Rawlins should resubmit their claim to the city's insurance provider.