LISBON — Zoning became a topic at the Columbiana County commissioners’ meeting Wednesday when Madison Township resident Jamie Nentwick asked commissioners how they feel about it.

“Are you for zoning?” Commissioner Mike Halleck asked her.

She said she’s learning more about it.

Nentwick, from River Valley Organizing, invited commissioners to attend a community discussion meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 at West Point Nazarene Church regarding zoning, explaining that she’s been working on zoning education in Madison Township with meetings at the church featuring videos from the Ohio Township Association.

A session on Oct. 26 dealt with the how and why of zoning, a meeting tonight will deal with reactions to land use changes and a meeting Nov. 9 will deal with land use master plans. All meetings take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church.

The meeting on Nov. 30 will feature community discussions and community needs for Madison Township.

In response to her question about zoning, Commissioner Roy Paparodis, who chairs the Board of Commissioners, noted that most cities and villages have zoning, but people outside of cities don’t seem to like zoning because they feel it infringes on their rights.

“If people don’t want things in their townships, they should zone,” Paparodis said.

Halleck said a majority of people are against zoning, commenting that zoning can be very helpful, but can also infringe on people. Regardless of how the commissioners feel, he said “it’s about what the people feel who elected us.”

He said obviously things happen out there and people think zoning is wonderful when they need it. Nobody likes junk cars in front yards, but if there’s no zoning, they can’t do anything about it.

Commissioner Tim Weigle, who previously served as a Unity Township trustee, said they tried to get zoning in Unity Township and all the people who said they wanted it didn’t show up when it came time for a public meeting. He said zoning does have some good points. If they’re thinking about it in Madison Township, he commented “buckle your belts.”

He also noted that if they think zoning is going to stop the landfill in Madison Township, the permit was already issued and Nentwick said they’re aware of that.

In other business, commissioners heard a complaint from Nickolas Richards of Franklin Township regarding the county health department and the testing of his well water and a complaint and questions about a an oil and gas well pad on his property and the alleged shutting down of the well pad. He said he had been in contact with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Pete Conkle, district program coordinator for the Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District, was in attendance at the commissioners’ meeting and told commissioners his office could do some investigating regarding the well pad. He spoke briefly with Richards after the meeting.

In another matter, commissioners agreed to reduce the number of members of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board from 18 members down to 12 members, with the reduction occurring by not filling vacancies as they occur.

Weigle reported last week that he met with members of the recovery services board regarding recent changes put into effect by the state legislature regarding the size of governing boards dealing with mental health and recovery services.

House Bill 33 allows for the commissioners to determine the size of the board, with commissioners appointing two-thirds of the members and the state mental health officials appointing the remaining one-third of the members.

In county engineer matters, commissioners approved the annual load limit reductions of up to 50 percent for numerous county roads throughout the county and also authorized Engineer Bert Dawson to sign a lease agreement for two pieces of equipment known as plotters from Great America Financial Services for use in the county tax map and engineering departments.

The commissioners approved an easement from a portion of a recently purchased property on South Market Street by the county engineer to the village of Lisbon for the Grant Street bridge replacement project.

Commissioners also approved: hiring John Gore, Boardman, as a social service worker II in the social service division of the county Department of Job and Family Services; granted permission for Dan Volpe to trap on county-owned County Home Road property; and gave permission for use of the courthouse parking lot for the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce Shop and Skate event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 25, with the understanding that the business providing the ice skating must provide a copy of their liability insurance.

The next meeting of commissioners will be 9 a.m. Nov. 8 in the downtown courthouse.