GIRARD — City officials said they have already spent $2,000 to address the increasing number of feral cats within the community.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said at Monday’s council meeting the city entered into an agreement with Steel Valley Spay and Neuter to capture the cats and have them spayed or neutered by the organization, which is located in the city. He said several dozen cats were captured and taken to the organization, and 16 of them were pregnant.

“I have spent more time dealing with feral cats than I ever possibly dreamed of in my life. I am personally not a cat lover, but we have to address this problem,” Zuppo said, noting he has researched information online on how other communities deal with an overpopulation of cats.

Zuppo said the cats are tested and any that have feline leukemia or feline HIV are euthanized. He also said the majority of the cats were trapped in areas off Hartzell and Stambaugh avenues.

He said the cats that are spayed or neutered are brought back to the same location where they were captured and then after a short time, the number of cats does begin to decline since more and more cats are fixed. He said if this was not done, there would soon be nearly 200 cats with all the cats pregnant and reproducing.

“If this was not done, you may as well have a neon sign there saying, ‘More Cats Welcome,'” he said.

Zuppo said he understands money has to be spent to lower the number of feral cats.

PARTY HOUSES

In other business, Zuppo said he has spoken with police Chief John Freeman about the problem with short-term rental properties that have become “party houses” in parts of the city.

“The police have been very vigilant about dealing with party houses,” he said.

He said he and Safety-Service Director Mark Ragozine have met with the Trumbull County Planning Commission about this.

Also, Zuppo said he has spoken to Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller about both communities having a direct primary care facility in their communities.

“The two communities are getting our heads together to discuss this,” Zuppo said.

Zuppo plans to attend the March 18 meeting of Struthers City Council and Cercone will attend the 6 p.m. March 23 Girard council caucus on the matter as well.

Also attending those meetings will be representatives of Quick Med and KO Consulting to address grant funding for primary care facilities.