TOLEDO -- They've had it up to their chins with the City of Toledo's lack of response every time their neighborhood floods, which is nearly every time it rains. So, they're suing the city.
About 75 people in the Shanty Creek district, including those on Crawford Ave, filed a lawsuit two weeks ago after dealing with years of flooding. On Thursday, they filed an additional suit because of Wednesday's rain, reports Jonathan Walsh.
The residents argue the City of Toledo and Lucas County must fix the flooding problem. The city tells us it does not comment on pending lawsuits, but those who put up with the flooding have plenty to say.
"It's just scary losing a whole week of your life, you know," says Tim Kalka about the floods of 2006 when 4 ft. of sewage filled his basement on Crawford. Sewer gasses put his life in jeopardy, he says, and he was rushed to the hospital.
"They were telling my wife they weren't expecting me to make it," Kalka says.
Last year, his home flooded eight times; this year, three, including during Wednesday night's rain.
Kalka says his wife's health has been affected as well. The two are a part of the lawsuit against the city and county.
"I'm not the kind of person who is sue happy, but it's gotten to a point where something's gotta change," Kalka says.
Down the street, Kelli Morelli showed us the flood damage to her garage and the things inside. She says her home has flooded six times in six years. She, too, is part of the lawsuit.
"We're just disgusted," Morelli says. "I wish it would just get fixed. We can't even sell our houses on this road."
