The City of Cedar Rapids is undergoing some major safety upgrades after a teenager lost his life.
Plans for safety upgrades to a sewer inlet have been announced after 17-year-old Logan Blake was swept into a storm sewer in June of 2014, according to a report by KWWL.
Blake was walking near Arthur School in Cedar Rapids when he and another boy were swept into the drain during flash flooding.
One boy was rescued from a drain pipe, according to the report. Blake’s body was later found in Cedar Lake.
Public works planned to install a guard, fence, and signage at the storm sewer intake that Blake and his friend were swept into. The safety improvements are part of a settlement with Blake’s family.
The project was set to be complete by May 31, 2015.
Pending authorization by the city, the improvement project will reportedly settle claims that the family might have against the City of Cedar Rapids. The city will also be paying $2,000 for attorney fees.
“Logan was the kind of person who would always help people and never expect any recognition or praise for it,” said his mother Candice “Candy” Blake, according to the report. “He was quietly one of the coolest kids you ever met. Having these safety measures in place will help our family find peace, knowing that other children in our community are protected. That’s what Logan would have wanted.”
The City of Cedar Rapids is reviewing similar sewer inlets to where the incident happened to see if safety improvements are necessary.
The city also plans to increase flash-flood safety education for the community.
