The Sept. 14 front page of this newspaper shows the massive release of sewage on our citizens. The property owners that caused this unsanitary, gooey and expensive disaster should be made to pay for the cleanup and forced to fix their property so this never happens again. The City should explore all avenues to force these landowners to stop this madness; from DEQ complaints, fines and if needed initiating a civil lawsuit. City taxpayers have already subsidized this problem by installing a 2,300-gallon sewage catch basin. In 2003, this neighborhood suffered through the Smith Ditch flood which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage which was totally preventable but the local farmers that benefited from this ditch wouldn’t pay for the necessary upkeep nor police their own ditch for problems. I ask the city manager and Council to protect our citizens from this type of negligent behavior. No one should be allowed to spread their sewage on their neighbors.

Enough is Enough.

Jeff Petry

Baker City