St. Peters man looking for reimbursement after water main break destroys home

ST. PETERS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Mike Crites said he was enjoying a summer day last July when he got a frantic call.

“My daughter-in-law calls, tells me there’s a water main break,” he said. “I come over, her and my granddaughter, they’re in the kitchen panicking big time.”

Crites arrived to the rental property he owns on South Gatty Drive in St. Peters to find water shooting up from the street and into the home.

“You couldn’t’ve aimed it any better with a firehouse,” he recalled.

Crites said the water caused over $120,000 worth of damage.

“They had to completely gut the downstairs, had to take the front two plaster walls upstairs,” he said. “Had to take every square inch of floor out of the whole house.”

The destruction also took an emotional toll on his family.

“Two of the kids living with their other grandparents, the two boys, the little girl went down to Perryville to live with my daughter,” he said. “Basically just separated the family.”

Nearly a year later, the house is almost move-in ready.

Crites said insurance took care of most of repairs but he told First Alert 4 he still paid $9,000 dollars out of pocket.

He claims the city of St. Peters is dragging its feet when it comes to reimbursing him.

“Guess the city don’t wanna be decent,” he said.

First Alert 4 reached out to the city of St. Peters asking about the situation.

A spokesperson said in a statement, “We have been in numerous times with the Crites’ insurance company and attorney since October 2024 to complete a settlement for the damage. we look forward to having this finally resolved in the near future”.

Crites said his family is staying in another one of his rental properties for now.

He is calling on the City of St. Peters to make him whole after forking over thousands to fix his house.

“Help them out with what you cost them,” he said.

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