A dispute between an Overlook Drive resident and the city of Akron has again spilled out into the open, four months after the saga went public on the floor of City Council.
Akron resident Tiffany Smith said on social media the city backtracked on its promise to fix her broken sewer line, but the city said the line is operating correctly after repairs.
“The City has done NOTHING they said they would do in regards to my sewer line!” she said in a Facebook post.
Via email, city spokeswoman Stephanie Marsh said, “the line is open at this time, and the family can use their facilities as normal.”
Smith said she’s still using plastic bags to handle her family’s waste.
“I wanted to write to reaffirm the city’s commitment that this repair work is intended as a first step, not as an end to the process,” Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said in a March 23 letter to Smith, which was shared with the Beacon Journal.
Marsh said repairs began on the sewer line on March 12. During the work, she said, a contractor discovered that the line wasn’t broken, but blocked by a root ball. Several sections of the line were removed, as well as the blockage, Marsh said, and a new section of pipe was installed.
“The (line) at this point was open and flowing and the resident was informed she could use her facilities normally now and flush ordinary tissue products without issue,” Marsh said. “The contractor did recommend additional inspection and root clean up.”
Marsh said contractors were scheduled to perform the additional inspection and root cleanup on April 2.
However, Marsh said Smith didn’t grant the contractors access to her property.
“We have remained in regular contact with Mrs. Foxworth-Smith’s legal representation with our most recent communication being yesterday, Thursday, April 9,” she said.
Smith is represented by local attorney Imokhai Okolo, who didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
“We understand it is the desire of Mrs. Foxworth-Smith to have a completely new sewer line that would no longer be connected to her neighbor,” Marsh said. “While the city had been working with the adjacent property owner to secure the right to put a new line across her property, a geotechnical report was requested due to the large boulders on the neighbor’s property directly behind the neighbor’s home. The report shows that the sewer work could jeopardize the property and so permission was not granted for this work.”
In his letter, Malik said the city would keep exploring the feasibility of placing a new line across the adjoining property while staying in touch with her and Okolo.
“I understand that what is done and how it is done are both important,” Malik said, “and we will continue to address this matter in a way that equitably resolves your concerns.”
How was the city made aware of Smith’s problem?
Smith initially brought her complaint to Akron City Council on Jan. 5.
In an impassioned statement during the council meeting’s public comment period, Smith said a sewage line broken by the city has been dumping sewage into her basement, throwing her family’s life into chaos for years.
Smith’s emotional plea for action, which circulated widely on social media, prompted a brief recess at the meeting – with several city officials immediately gathering with her in private to discuss the situation.
Days later, the city announced that its willingness to pay to repair the line.
“In the interest of resolving this situation that has been going on for more than two years, and because the city initially attempted to make repairs, the city is now planning to cover the cost of the replacement of the line. We will also be reviewing how we approach situations like this in the future,” said Malik in a prepared statement on Jan. 8.
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron resident says she’s still battling city over sewer line repairs
Reporting by Derek Kreider, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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