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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, February 24, 2014 Page 18 mains were typically constructed ten feet one side or the other of the center line, and those private service lines located further away from the building to the main were seeing the most issue. Mr. Schwartz advised that those having a short side service typically had only a few feet exposed to extreme depth of frost, with other problems related to soil types (e.g. sandy soils) in those areas. Mr. Schwartz advised that, even as early as the end of January, staff was becom- ing aware that there were few private sector companies available to assist property owners in thawing lines due to liability issues, limited success this year in thawing lines, and the need for significant bills to accomplish effective results; as well as property owners getting timely results. Of those few contractors with available equipment or willingness to thaw lines, Mr. Schwartz noted that they were re- sponding to multiple cities and properties, and experiencing similar logistical is- sues as being experienced in the City of Roseville. As staff is available, Mr. Schwartz advised that they were responding to assist homeowners; and most of the service requests are not on the City's annual freeze- up list of approximately 100 properties that the City asks to run water at certain areas or lines to avoid freeze-ups. Mr. Schwartz advised that staff responded to those traditional and annual issues; but if not on the freeze-up list, once the City got their service up and running and installed a device to prevent any repeat prob- lems, the problem became that of the property owner. Because of the difficulties experienced this season and depth of frost, Mr. Schwartz advised that the City was only having a 50% success rate due to the length of the lines and lack of pressure with existing equipment, as well as often hitting connections of curb boxes and unable to get through the line to a sufficient length to alleviate the problem. While a few private sector firms will thaw lines with electric current, essentially with a portable welder and high amperage electricity, Mr. Schwartz noted that this had been difficult at times, as well as posing significant risks, one of the reasons so few welders were willing to perform that service any longer due to their insur- ance companies demanding they not provide the service due to potential fires. Mr. Schwartz noted that this situation had been experienced in Roseville last week where a house across the street from the home being serviced encountered an issue and the Fire Department had to be called, a risk with high amperage cur- rent not having sufficient conductivity. Mr. Schwartz noted that, with the City's limited installation of plastic water lines over the past few years, it became an issue where only hot water thawing could work; and one service line was experiencing difficulty in thawing due to that pip- ing construction. For various reasons, Mr. Schwartz noted that there was no guar- antee that the City could get everyone of those homes back in service.