Disabled resident says city didn't keep its promise

YOUNGSTOWN — The damage to Edward Kalosky II’s North Whitney Avenue house from sewage backing up into his basement five times in recent weeks goes well beyond the hot-water heater and furnace replaced by the city.

Kalosky said the backup resulted in a company, hired and paid by the city, throwing out his washer and dryer, a refrigerator, stove and two televisions during a cleanup of his basement, which he had converted into a den. The cost to replace the items is about $5,000, he said.

“The city said they’d replace everything,” Kalosky said. “The mayor promised everything would be taken care of as it was [the city’s] fault. I didn’t do this. I’m on a limited income and disabled. I was in the hospital after slipping on sewage on my steps. I can’t just go out and buy a new TV and dryer.”

Speaking on behalf of the city, Nicole Billec, assistant law director, said Mayor John A. McNally made a decision to pay for emergency costs to replace furnaces and hot-water heaters and to clean up basements impacted by flooding, including Kalosky’s, when a sewerline collapsed on the West Side in late October.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com