Warsaw Wastewater Utility Manager Brian Davison provides some information Monday, Dec. 15, to the Warsaw Common Council about the lateral line insurance program offered by HomeServe. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW – Sewer and water line problems on homeowners’ properties can run into thousands of dollars they’re responsible for.

Monday night, Dec. 15, the Warsaw Common Council heard about an optional lateral line insurance program for homeowners from Wastewater Utility Manager Brian Davison, Mayor Jeff Grose and HomeServe Business Development Director Mike Chambers. No decision was made at Monday’s meeting, but further information will be presented to the council in late January or early February to consider endorsing the program by HomeServe.

“This is a presentation about a lateral insurance type of program,” said Davison. “We’ve looked at different lateral insurance programs over the years. Clear back, James Emans and I studied a few communities around us. … There are always pros and cons to each one we looked at. This is one that Mike Chambers presented to me. I thought it might be a solution if we wanted to pursue a lateral insurance program. I shared it with the mayor … and thought we’d at least bring it to the council and get your opinion of it.”

One issue with the laterals (private pipes connecting a building’s plumbing to the main public sewer in the street) in town are the cost if they need replaced.

“A homeowner is responsible from our main line, the tap, to the house … Some of these sewers run down the edge of the street. The people on the opposite side of the street have to dig clear across the road to do these repairs and they can get very costly. So, this is an option,” Davison said.

Grose said what got his attention about it is Aim (Accelerate Indiana Municipalities) “got a hold of us in June and actually said that this would be something for all cities in Indiana to consider.”

In his presentation on the NLC Service Line Warranty Program by HomeServe, Chambers said through the program, HomeServe works with cities and municipalities all across the country to make their service line warranty products available for residents. The program is endorsed by the National League of Cities, as well as Aim, he said. HomeServe currently has about 1,300 communities across the country participating, including about 40 in Indiana. Everyone kind of understands infrastructure is getting older and older, especially when it comes to water and sewer lines, Chambers said.

“One of the big issues, while the cities and towns are doing their part to maintain those main water and sewer lines in the street, and have these miles and miles and miles of line that connect to that system, but a lot of times they don’t get any attention until there’s an issue, and that’s those residents’ lateral service lines,” Chambers said.

He said when a resident’s frozen water line breaks or a sewer line collapses from tree roots, the first thing the resident does is call the city. The city will send someone out to make sure the line in the street is working properly, which typically it is because cities maintain them. But then the city has to be the bearer of bad news and tell the resident it’s their lateral line that’s causing the problem.

“And a lot of times residents can become upset because they don’t even realize they’re responsible for these lines that run from their house to the connection, and even the residents who do realize they’re responsible don’t have the $6,000; $7,000; $8,000 in costs to dig up and replace it,” Chambers said. “So that’s kind of where our program comes in. First off, it’s an educational program. We do a free program awareness program for all of the homeowners in the community, letting them know these lines are their responsibility. Give them some tips on what they can do to experience this program properly. … And then also allow them, if they choose, to purchase a warranty to cover these lines should something happen.”

HomeServe handles all the program’s marketing, billing, customer service and claims. There’s no cost for the city. If the city does decide to participate in the program, it’s not forced onto the residents, and they don’t have to take part. HomeServe will make three products available to the residents: the External Water Line coverage, the External Sewer Line coverage and In-home Plumbing & Drain.

The first two cover up to $8,500 per incident to repair/replace broken, cracked or clogged exterior lines. The In-home Plumbing & Drain covers up to $3,000 per incident on all water, sewer and drain lines inside the home after point of entry. Chambers said there’s no deductible on the programs nor any service fees. HomeServe doesn’t do any pre-inspections so everyone’s eligible to enroll. Local contractors are used.

Chambers stated HomeServe doesn’t do any telemarketing. All aspects of the program are done through a direct-mailing educational letter, in the spring or fall, after the city reviews and approves it.

Councilwoman Diane Quance asked if each program was separate and if a resident can choose which one they want to sign up for. Chambers said yes, all three products are available separately. However, if a resident takes both the sewer and water option, they get a 10% discount. As for pricing, Chambers said everyone in Indiana gets the same rate. The water line coverage runs $5.99 per month; sewer line coverage, $13.99 per month; and the In-home Plumbing & Draining runs $15.99 per month. Residents can pay that how they choose – monthly, automatic deduction or paying in advance. There’s no contract to sign.

Council President Jack Wilhite asked what would be required of the council. Chambers said the council would just need to approve for the mayor to sign the marketing agreement, which gives HomeServe the right to send out the mailing. If the Warsaw Common Council endorses HomeServe, it does not prevent any resident from seeking out another company as it’s a non-exclusive agreement. Quance and Wilhite wanted the city attorney, who was not present at Monday’s meeting, to review the material and any letter for liability purposes, but all the council members present were in agreement to go forward with moving forward with it.

In other business, the council:

• Heard from Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen that they city received its 1782 Notice for the 2026 budget from the Department of Local Government Finance on Dec. 2 and had until Dec. 12 to respond. The city’s tax rate is $1.2641 per $100 of assessed valuation. She said she responded and now they’re just waiting for their certified 2026 budget.

• Approved Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Joel Shilling’s request to transfer $32,781.28 from the FSSA grant back into the operating fund. The transfer is to bring the FSSA grant to a zero balance before year’s end as well. The WWFT Board approved the transfer Dec. 2.

• Heard a public thank-you from Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins to Mike Loher, his volunteers and all the sponsors for the 12th annual ‘A Country Christmas’ with Susie McEntire concert. She said it was well attended despite the weather. “Many thanks to Mike because I know he works really hard on it,” she stated.

• Heard kudos from resident Gary Parker to the city for doing a great job on the Thanksgiving weekend snowfall cleanup.

• Was reminded that the Board of Public Works and Safety meetings in January will be Jan. 9 and 23 at 10:30 a.m. instead of Jan. 2 and 16. All of the meetings of the city’s boards and commissions will remain in the council chambers of City Hall in January but will move to the WPD training facility in February.