The parking is fine for tenants, but the only place for visitors to park is in a mud hole. I asked the manager if stones could be put in this area as we are bringing mud in. The manager recently said that after we shovel our sidewalk, if we need salt on the sidewalk, we should call one of the residents and have them come over to do this. Ask your city safety director or mayor's office if Bellevue has any snow removal policies. Landlords do not have to provide security lighting in common areas, according to Ohio court decisions.
Landlords do have a duty to maintain common areas.
You could withhold rent and place it in an escrow account to request that the landlord improve the muddy parking lot. However, if you take this step, you must follow the legal procedures for escrow accounts carefully and it is important that you are not one day late or one dollar behind in paying your rent. Once you place the money in escrow, the landlord will probably file a motion to cancel your escrow and release the money. You may need to go to a hearing and bring photos or other evidence showing the conditions in the parking lot. The judge has the discretion to order the landlord to improve the parking area.