BELPRE, Ohio (WTAP) – The founder of a local tech company claimed snow and ice created challenges for roof work and vehicle maintenance.
Winter weather has created significant operational challenges for local technology company iTech, forcing delays and cancellations as snow and ice make routine business activities difficult.
Mike Williams, owner and founder of iTech, said the company has faced multiple weather-related obstacles this week, including frozen diesel fuel in company vehicles and inability to access customer rooftops due to snow accumulation.
“It has been a rough week,” Williams said. “We are extremely busy, so we had lots of projects that we were needing to be able to do. But when we have weather like this, because we need to get on people’s roofs, we can’t get on the roofs because of all the snow.”
The company operates 13 service vehicles, with one diesel truck experiencing fuel freezing issues. Williams said employees must start vehicles 20 to 30 minutes before departing due to cold conditions.
Customer access has also become problematic, with some clients canceling appointments because driveways remain impassable. Williams cited an example of a service call to Jackson, Ohio schools that was canceled mid-route when the district closed due to weather.
“We get halfway there, we get a phone call and say, hey, we’re not coming in because we’re closing school,” Williams said. “So that now my guy drives halfway there, ends up having to come back.”
The weather has generated increased demand for certain services, particularly IT support for employees working from home. Williams said many customers need help with VPNs and remote access systems.
“A lot of people have the ability, especially since the pandemic, a lot of people can kind of work from anywhere,” Williams said. “So now they’re trying to work from home, but they’re not set up the same way as what they’re set up in the office.”
School closures have affected staffing, with employees unable to work due to childcare needs. One employee was injured after slipping on ice.
The company’s 130-year-old building requires additional winter maintenance, including keeping faucets dripping overnight to prevent frozen pipes.
Williams said iTech follows Belpre City Schools’ schedule for delays and closures and has equipped all employees with laptops to enable remote work when possible.
Cold weather affects various technology components, Williams said. Security alarm monitoring devices experience battery drain in low temperatures, and laptops left in vehicles can freeze and crack.
“You be careful leaving your laptop in the car when it’s 5 below because they will freeze up, it will crack,” Williams said.
Williams encouraged customers to communicate with local businesses during weather events and remain patient with service delays. The company, in its 25th year of operation, plans to continue growing in 2026.
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