CLINTON — A Clinton man hopes the city can help him with a sewer line problem.  But, although officials are eager to assist, the process could take a while.

Ron Devore, who lives with his wife Marjorie on W. Woodlawn Street, on Tuesday addressed the city council about his predicament.

After a long period of trouble-free sewer service, he recently had to pay out nearly $2,400 to a plumber to fix a problem.  The lack of an easement to the property prevents city workers from performing any work on what is essentially classified as a private sewer line.

Devore’s father and brother, who were building contractors, built the house for Devore in the 1960s.  The sanitary district assisted in correcting a problem with the sewer line when it was first installed, Devore said.

“It worked,” Devore said.  “So, everything was pretty good.”

Permission was given for the property to connect to the sanitary sewer, but an easement was never granted to permit public workers access if there was ever a problem that needed to be repaired.

• Read the complete story in the Friday, Dec. 22 print edition of the Clinton Journal or now in the Journal E-Edition for subscribers.