GIRARD — City officials have been dealing the past two-and-a-half months with the winter weather’s effect on streets and sidewalks, noting there have been 26 waterline breaks since Dec. 1. People have fallen in the downtown area, including one man who fell on snow and ice and slid under his car.

Officials noted that Girard is not the only community facing issues with a lot of salt used on the roads and clearing snow from sidewalks.

Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th Ward, said residents have attended meetings and called officials concerned about sidewalks in the downtown area that are covered with snow, making it difficult to get to businesses.

He said the businesses need to clear the sidewalks in front of their buildings.

“It has been a problem and I understand the winter we have had this year,” Grumley said.

He said he himself had difficulty getting a family member from his car to a business because of all the snow. Grumley said some businesses have kept their sidewalks cleared.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said he was in the downtown area the other day when a man was getting out of his car to get to a business and slid in the snow and went under his vehicle. Zuppo was able to help get the man out from under his car.

Zuppo said Chase Bank has been able to clear sidewalks in front of the bank for customers.

Grumley said the city also owns property in the downtown area by Cafe Olgun and the Wellman Theater that also need to be kept clear.

He also suggested that after the city’s snow plows pile up snow as high as 3 feet or more — making it difficult to see traffic or get across areas to sidewalks — they can come back in the next day or two and remove some of the highest piles that have created issues.

Councilwoman Lily Martuccio, D-at Large, suggested businesses unable to clear their sidewalks could contribute funds to cover costs for city workers or others to clear them for them.

Grumley said with the severe cold weather, the roads have been beaten up, and there will likely be a lot of patchwork needed for potholes and other road damage in the spring and summer.

Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine said the city already has had 26 waterline breaks in different parts of the community since Dec. 1.

He said road crews were out Monday evening addressing a break.

“Unfortunately what has been happening is when we have one waterline break, it leads to another one. Our workers go out in this cold and do what they can to fix the breaks,” Ragozine said.

He said Ohio Public Works Commission funds will need to be sought to address waterlines that will need to be replaced.

SALT USAGE

Trumbull County Engineer David DeChristofaro said the engineer’s office has provided salt from Morton Salt to 41 communities at a rate of $48.99 per ton.

“Salt has been a very hot topic in the news both locally and across the state of Ohio. Some counties in parts of Ohio have already run out of salt,” he said.

DeChristofaro said that Girard ordered 2,000 tons of salt, of which 1,080 has been provided and 919 tons remain. He said Girard has used 54% of its salt this winter and is in good shape compared to other communities.