St. Clairsville service director Scott Harvey says that the streets department has been working hard to remove snow after business hours so as not to interfere with local businesses. (T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA)

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Belmont County Northern Division Judge Adam Myser took to St. Clairsville City Council’s regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday evening to ask for its blessing on the third annual Run for Justice 5k.

Myser informed council that he will be hosting the annual race on May 2 and, if council approves it, the race would once again start at the Belmont County Divisional Court Complex, and finish in front of the main courthouse in downtown St. Clairsville.

Myser said that he usually works with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and St. Clairsville Police Department to briefly close National Road on Route 40.

“We do the race early in the morning. We’re usually out of here within an hour,” Myser said. “Over the last two years, we’ve had 199 race participants. Over the last two years we’ve raised over $20,000 so we average about $10,000 a year to contribute that money back to local, legal and government education [with] which we’ve been able to support some local schools and some projects within the community.”

“And then this year, we’re making a push to try and get 250 participants in light of the 250th celebration,” he added. “Our Supreme Court and our government are kind of making a push to utilize infrastructure that was here 250 years ago, to promote the birth of the country. So we’re trying to use National Road 40 to do a 5k.”

Council unanimously passed a motion to approve Myser’s request.

In other matters, council member Mike Kasper then said that he walked through downtown earlier in the day on Monday and was disappointed at the large amount of snow on the city sidewalks.

“The snow is piled up, terrible. I don’t know how Audrey [Audrey’s Avenue Kitchen & Bar] gets any people into the restaurant. I don’t know how Newellstown Diner gets any people in. You can’t get out of your car. Passengers cannot get out, we have got to do better,” Kasper said. “It’s been a week. I’d like to see us step up and treat our businesses better. We want business in town. Let’s do things that keep them coming in town. Let’s keep our streets clear, keep our sidewalks clear.”

Service director Scott Harvey said that for the past week the streets department has been working through the night removing snow in order to not interfere with businesses during business hours.

Harvey said that the city has had many problems in the last couple of weeks due to the weather with water breaks and snow plowing and added that his staff is stretched pretty thin — so thin he’s had the electric department out with the streets department.

Mayor Kathryn Thalman said that she knows the sidewalks are not perfect but the harsh temperatures have provided an extraordinary challenge as the freezing temperatures have made the snow hard as rock.

“They were out 24-hours straight on Sunday because I took them food twice and they just ran and ran and ran,” Thalman said.

Kasper agreed and said that the street department does a fantastic job, but said snow removal should be a priority.

“I just want us to do it better. I want us to do it a little quicker,” Kasper said.

Council member Kristi Lipscomb asked Harvey about the possibility of contacting a contractor to take care of the sidewalks and Harvey pointed out that the city isn’t technically responsible for clearing sidewalks but said he can look into it if council would like to pay to hire a contractor.