CORTLAND — City council has approved an agreement to pay for spay and neuter services for feral cats trapped inside the city.

Officials have said in recent years there has been a problem with feral cats in parts of the city.

Animal Pawtectors, an Ohio nonprofit volunteer organization, is trapping feral cats within the city and takes the cats to Steel Valley Spay Neuter Clinic in Girard for spay and neuter procedures.

The clinic is run by Dr. Suzanne Wilcox, who saw a need for low-cost spay and neuter services after dealing with the pet overpopulation problem first hand by working in the field of shelter medicine. Officials said this time of the year is when there are spring litters.

Officials said the clinic is the only local free-standing veterinary facility dedicated to providing only spay and neuter services and since opening in 2007, the clinic has performed more than 30,000 surgeries The cost to the city is not to exceed $7,500. The services are $89 for basic spay and $74 for basic neuter.

In other business at the Aug. 18 meeting, council approved extending project funding for the West Main Street waterline replacement project with TK Excavating of Girard for additional services and materials on the project. The extra cost is not to exceed $47,576.

The project was funded through a $250,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission through the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, a $284,105 grant through

the Ohio Department of Development Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Program, $159,280 of American Rescue Plan funding, and a $185,496 20-year zero interest loan through the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement Program.

Also, council approved a resolution to reimburse the general fund for the West Main Street water main replacement project with the proceeds of a tax exempt debt of the state.

Officials said a portion of the funding for the project in the amount of $185,496 will come from proceeds of an Ohio Public Works Commission loan from bonds to be issued by the state.

Council also set a public hearing for 6:50 p.m. Sept. 15 to consider a zone change request for the replat of a lot in Walnut Run Estates from service district to residential district. The city’s planning, zoning and building commission had a public hearing Aug. 11 and recommended that council grant the zone change.