LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lincoln City Council has rejected more than $600,000 in claims by residents whose homes were damaged by sewage during heavy rains.

The sewage backups were caused by storm runoff overwhelming the Theresa Street wastewater treatment facility in October and May. The city attorney has said Lincoln isn’t legally responsible for the damage. He said city staffers weren’t negligent and that the damage was caused by the weather.

The council on Monday voted to deny the claims.

The council has made an effort to help affected residents by approving a $1 million program that would go toward cleanup costs. Property owners can either accept the city’s disaster assistance for cleanup costs or take their claims to district court.