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Marseilles To Get More Than $1 Million In Settlement With Barge Company Over 2013 Flood Damage

Guy Stephens
/
WNIJ

The city of Marseilles, Ill., will get more than a million dollars in a settlement reached with Ingram Barge Company over damage caused by extensive flooding in April 2013.  The Ottawa Times reports the city’s mayor announced the settlement Wednesday night at a city council meeting.

During the 2013 flood, several Ingram barges broke away from a tugboat, striking the city’s lock and dam on the Illinois River. The collision caused extensive damage that prevented the lock from opening properly. The sunken barges also impeded the river's flow through the facility.

The city argued that the combination contributed to massive flooding in the town. Ingram denied they were responsible, blaming bad weather and historically high water levels. The $1,175,000 settlement heads off a court case by the city against Ingram scheduled to begin this month.

Ingram recently settled a separate action by the U.S. government, which has jurisdiction through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, over the incident.

A class-action lawsuit against the company by more than 200 Marseilles homeowners is still active. 

Guy Stephens produces news stories for the station, and coordinates our online events calendar, PSAs and Arts Calendar announcements. In each of these ways, Guy helps keep our listening community informed about what's going on, whether on a national or local level. Guy's degrees are in music, and he spent a number of years as a classical host on WNIU. In fact, after nearly 20 years with Northern Public Radio, the best description of his job may be "other duties as required."
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