AKRON, Ohio (WJW) – Thomas and Tiffany Smith moved into their home 21 years ago. It has four bedrooms, three baths, and three scenic lots overlooking Summit Lake.
“My forever home, my paradise for my family,” said Thomas. “The best piece of property in Akron. Look at the view, it’s beautiful.”
Three years ago, all of that changed.
“In (February) 2023, our toilet in our basement began to back up with muddy water and sewage,” Tiffany told Nexstar’s WJW. “I called the city out because I knew that the issue was tree roots from the tree that was sitting on what was considered a vacant city lot.”
The Smiths said two drain companies came out, but could not open the line.
“They attempted to jet our line. Jetting means they take something that looks like a fire hose and they put it down your sewer lines,” Tiffany explained. She said there was disagreement over whether or not to “jet” the lines, understanding that the sewer lines are nearly century-old clay pipes that likely would not be able to handle the pressure.
“As they were doing it, within about 20 minutes, right where you see this tree, water erupted like a volcano and raw sewage and everything spilled out onto a neighbor’s house down here. We are talking about 100 gallons,” said Tiffany.
The sewage also flooded their home and garage.
After that, the city of Akron called out a contractor to dig up the sewer line and the excavation began, but there was another discussion about liability with the property on a hill and houses below.
Tiffany said the contractor left with the excavation already underway, promising they would be back, but in the middle of the night, they removed their equipment from their property and never again returned.
Nearly three years later, the sewage problems that were never repaired continue.
The Smiths said they were told not to even attempt to flush toilet paper, so they have been placing their used toilet paper in bags and putting it in their trash. In a scenic home where they used to do a good bit of outdoor entertaining, they told WJW they have not had people over for the past three years because of their water and sewage issues.
During an emotional address to the Akron city council last week, Tiffany alleged that she has been harassed and threatened by the city over the past three years.
According to Tiffany, the letters claimed she and her husband are responsible for repairing the damage the city’s contractors left behind. They have also dealt with threats of arrest, a quiet suggestion that they try to get supplemental insurance coverage by lying that they did not know the problem existed, and last month, a demand for $30,000 for the city to send its own contractor to complete the job they did not finish three years ago.
Tiffany said the money would have been added to their taxes over the next 10 years, or the water would be turned off and a lien would be placed on the property.
“I am in imminent danger of losing our home of 21 years,” Tiffany told the Akron city council. “The city has come and dug up my sewer line, they have marked it off with spray paint, and then told me they are absolving and washing their hands of it. I have a dug-up sewer line, nobody will help me. They came and they busted my sewer line, I am out of thousands and thousands of dollars.”
The Smiths were ushered out of the council chambers to meet with Akron city administrators.
On Thursday, Mayor Shammas Malik issued a statement that read in part: “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.”
The Smiths met again on Friday with Malik, a representative of the city’s law department, Ward 9 Council Member Tina Boyes, and others. Also present for the meeting was the Smiths’ attorney, Imokhai Okolo
“The city has made a commitment to paying for fixing what has been happening with the sewer line and I think it’s just about figuring out the logistics of how that is actually going to happen,” said Okolo. “On one hand, people looking at it is a very simple thing, but it’s more complicated than just going in and fixing the line.”
The Smiths said their sewer line does not run to the street in front of their house, but extends more than 200 feet down the hill behind their home, where it merges with a downhill neighbor’s, possibly one of the longest such sanitary sewer lines in the city.
As such, there remains a number of logistical and engineering details to be worked out before the repairs resume. However, the Smiths are pleased that the mayor has at least made a commitment to finally do something to help them.
There also remains the matter of damage still inside the house from the sewage that backed up into the home, which was built in 1928, that needs to be repaired as well.
When asked what he felt was the catalyst for the city making a 180-degree change in their willingness to help them, Thomas said, “the court of public opinion.”
“It’s been a nightmare for us,” said Tiffany. “When people know that other people are going to know your wrongdoings, when the light shines on the dark, that’s when you are going to get action. This isn’t just for me and my family. This is for all of the people who have been wronged and don’t have the wherewithal to stand up and fight.”
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