A Boardman neighborhood is raising concerns after a fire hydrant on Shelby Road was marked as "out of service" nearly a month ago, with no repairs in sight.

Resident Frank McGovern first noticed the issue three weeks ago when Youngstown Water Department crews were working on a nearby hydrant. After seeing the hydrant covered with a plastic bag, he reached out to local officials, including the Boardman Fire Department and Youngstown Water, to find out when it would be fixed.

McGovern says he was told that due to an unusually high number of water main breaks this winter, repairs to the hydrant would have to wait. He believes fire hydrants should be just as much of a priority as water mains and worries about what could happen if a fire were to break out in the area.

Youngstown Water Commissioner Harry Johnson acknowledged the delay, stating that January alone saw over 120 water main breaks—the second-highest number since 1997. He explained that fixing the hydrant requires digging up the road, but with crews working around the clock, they have had to prioritize water emergencies first.

Despite the delay, Johnson assured residents that there are working hydrants nearby and that fire protection remains in place.

However, McGovern remains concerned, saying hydrant repairs should receive more immediate attention.

For now, city officials say the repair is on their radar, but with an exceptionally busy season, it remains unclear when the hydrant will be fixed.