GIRARD — An inspection of the inside of the Wellman Theater, off West Liberty Street, found it was unsafe for anyone to be there, so city officials are working to help find a new location for the church group that has been meeting there.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said at Monday’s council meeting that he did a walkthrough with fire Chief James Petruzzi. Zuppo said he and other city churches are working to help members of Jesus is the Way World Outreach Ministries find a new location.

“I have called and spoken to them about not continuing to hold church services there. I have also spoken to other churches. Some of the other churches have offered to allow them to use their church facilities on a rotating basis for services,” Zuppo said.

Pastor Barbara Dobranchin, who was outside the theater Monday with church members, said she understands the situation and appreciates what Zuppo is doing to help them get a new location.

She said she needed to remove some items from the building.

The church offered worship and healing services at the theater on the weekends.

Councilwoman at-Large Lily Martuccio, chairwoman of the theater committee, said the city is seeking grant money to repair and update the theater. She said with the inspection by the fire chief determining it is uninhabitable, major work needs to be done and money is needed to cover costs.

Zuppo said no city funds will be used on the theater.

“We will only get the theater back open if we get grant money. We are not spending taxpayer dollars,” Zuppo said.

DAM STUDY

Safety-Service Director Sal Ponzio said a preliminary study of the Girard Upper Lake dam was completed by Verdantas Architects of Dublin and will be reviewed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Ponzio said the study indicated the dam is stable but work is needed at the spillway, and a second engineering study will be done to determine how much.

Ponzio said the second engineering study will be covered by a 65% grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the city to cover the rest. Ponzio said the dam has been categorized as “high hazard dam” and any work needs to be done by 2025.

Also, Ponzio and Petruzzi said the county commissioners have approved $225,842 to cover 100% of the costs for getting a new ambulance for the fire department.

Ponzio said no local match is needed. He said plans are to get a fully stocked ambulance from Penn Care.

Have an interesting story? Email Bob Coupland at bcoupland@tribtoday.com.