LISBON - The county park district and village of Leetonia are virtually assured of receiving state recreation grant money next year to continue projects.
Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel reported at this week's meeting the two applications were recommended for funding and their applications are likely to be approved since there is enough money available for both.
The park district is seeking $26,430 for part of its continuing efforts to expand the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail, while Leetonia applied for $131,240 for expansion of the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens area.
The funding source for both is the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund program, with the money awarded to districts. The county is one of seven that make up District 14 of the Natural Resources Assistance Council, which meets to rank the projects for funding. Hoppel said all applications are likely to be funded because there is enough grant money available, but the final word must come from the state.
The grant being sought by the park district is part of a $40,000 project to purchase land in Washingtonville, which would serve as the northern terminus of the Greenway Trail. Leetonia is using the grant money as part of a $175,000 project to purchase and develop 24 acres adjacent to the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens.
In other action at the meeting, commissioners agreed to modify a contract with Evercom, the company that provides telephone services to county jail inmates. The original contract called for Evercom to make phone cards available for inmates to use, but Hoppel said this became too cumbersome to administer because it involved the commissioners.
Under the revised contract, inmates can set up their own accounts directly without involving commissioners, who receive 35 percent for every call.
