State will pay most of sinkhole repair bill

YOUNGSTOWN — The cost of repairing a major sinkhole that caused the collapse of water and sewer lines — and the closing of Mahoning Avenue — is estimated at $260,000.

The state will pick up 80 percent of the cost up to $213,000, Charles Shasho, the city’s deputy director of public works, said today.

“That is a huge win,” he said. “I can’t say enough good about the Ohio Public Works Commission. They exceeded my expectations.”

The problems, which also included sewage and water backup into the basements of about 15 properties, have been “a big mess,” Shasho said.

Of those properties, all on Whitney Avenue except two on Mahoning Avenue on the city’s West Side, 12 basements needed to be professionally cleaned, eight needed new water heaters, and three needed new furnaces, he said.

The cleanups and replacements, being paid for by the city, should be done in a few days, Shasho said.

“We’re moving as fast as we can,” he said.

The problems started Oct. 24 with a waterline break on Mahoning Avenue near McKinley Avenue.

That was followed Monday by 250 feet of a nearby sewer line collapsing.

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