Resident says sewer backup during street work ruined finished basement; village says insurers are handling claims

A Tinley Park resident told the Village Board Tuesday that raw sewage entered her home during a September 24 street resurfacing and that she remains unpaid for nearly $100,000 in damage.

Joy Galavan, who identified herself as living at 1784 192nd Avenue, said raw sewage entered three first‑floor bathrooms and flowed into a finished basement, causing damage she estimated at almost $100,000. “It was three hours of raw sewage coming into our house before the problem was figured out,” Galavan said. She said mitigation, repairs and out‑of‑pocket expenses forced her to use savings and take on additional debt and that 120 days after the incident she had not received reimbursement.

Galavan told trustees she had been communicating with Village officials and contractors, and that she had compiled receipts, photos and e‑mail records. “We are out almost $100,000 that we've had to pay. I'm not seeking anything more than the cost of the damages and loss of property,” she said.

Village staff and trustees replied that the case is being handled through insurance channels and that the village has been advocating for an expedited resolution. Trustee members and staff confirmed the contractor on the resurfacing contract is Iroquois Paving and that Davis Concrete was a subcontractor; village staff said those contractor relationships complicate the insurance process.

John Urbanski (staff), quoted from his written correspondence, told the board the village has not formalized a position labeling the event an “act of God” and that staff has been pressing the insurers to prioritize the claim. Hannah (staff) explained the village’s role in claims handling: when contractor negligence is alleged, the village’s insurer engages an adjuster to gather facts; if the claimant’s losses are not covered by the homeowner’s policy the homeowner may seek recovery through the responsible contractor’s insurer or via subrogation by their own insurer.

Hannah noted that homeowners’ coverage can vary and that some policies require a separate sewer‑backup rider to receive direct coverage for a sewer event. Trustee Shaw observed that if a homeowner lacks a sewer‑backup rider typical homeowners policies may not cover such losses.

Galavan said she had been told by an insurer that the damaged driveway and the manhole at Almond Lane were not part of the contractor’s contracted work and that she felt the matter had been bounced among insurers and contractors. She said the village’s public‑works staff has been responsive in pursuing the claim with insurers and that village officials agreed to meet with her and with contractors and counsel to seek a resolution.

Village staff said they will meet with Galavan, public‑works staff and the village attorney and try to advance the claim with third‑party insurers; staff pledged to update her and to pursue subrogation or other remedies if contractor negligence can be established. No formal board action was taken; the matter was discussed in public comment and staff agreed to follow up.

The transcript records staff commitments to continue outreach to insurers and contractors and a planned meeting the day after the board session to try to close the matter by the end of the week. Galavan said she would continue to press for recovery and had filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Insurance.