City crews prepare for shifting responsibilities as temperatures rise
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Feb. 10, 2026) – New Philadelphia officials are bracing for the possibility of a new round of street‑level challenges as warming temperatures begin to take hold.
Service Director Ron McAbier told City Council Monday night that crews have already responded to a couple water leaks in recent days, a trend he expects will continue as the freeze–thaw cycle puts added stress on the infrastructure.
McAbier says city workers from several departments shifted duties for several days to help clear snow during the extended cold stretch, but most have now returned to their usual assignments.
Monday’s high temperature reached 33 degrees—New Philadelphia’s first day above freezing in 18 days. The city had remained frozen since just before Winter Storm Fern, and the snow has been here ever since.