Trending
LISBON -- Dollar General is apparently still interested in building a store along the south side of state Route 154, with property owner Bill Catlett asking village council Tuesday night if the village opposed the idea.
Catlett said he had the property surveyed and he's been checking records and according to what's he's found, the village doesn't have any right of way or easement there.
He referred to a news article that he saw in the spring when council voted in March against a right-of-way vacation requested by the developer for Dollar General for that property.
"Does village council have some objection to me bringing a business to town?" Catlett said.
"We can't stop you from selling your property," Councilwoman Susan Temple said.
Mayor Peter Wilson indicated that Dollar General wanted to reopen the issue. Board of Public Affairs Chairman Bill Hoover noted there's a sewer line on that side of the road, with Catlett adding that all they'll want to do is drive over the line.
"I don't think the BPA would have any objection as long as they don't build on our line," Hoover said.
Wilson said he imagined Dollar General wants the village's assurance before buying the property. Councilwoman Melissa Hiner questioned why they would need to come to council again. Wilson said Dollar General will have to go to the county and noted it's up to the developer to research what's needed to build there.
In other business, Lisbon resident Nick Gough, who claimed to be working for River Valley Organizing, requested council amend the police department body camera policy to require the police chief to wear a body camera when actively taking calls.
According to the policy approved by council on Oct. 12, 2021, the chief doesn't have to wear a body camera. Last month, Lisbon Police Chief Mike Abraham explained that he's the administrator of the department and doesn't have to answer calls. When his department is short staffed, though, he occasionally answers a call. When he backs up an officer, that officer has a body camera activated.
Councilwoman Dawn Thomas said the question should be placed in the minutes and the issue discussed in a committee meeting. The personnel committee will meet at 5 p.m. Nov. 30 to discuss the body camera policy, followed by a finance committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30.
Wilson updated council on the electric aggregation plan, saying that opt out letters will be going out Nov. 21 to all residents not currently enrolled in a program, with the aggregation set to begin Jan. 1.
Regarding the trees in the creek at Willow Grove Park, he reported meeting with a representative of the Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District and they advised to keep the stumps in the creek bank to prevent erosion. The spokesman also said to leave 3 to 4 feet of tree in the water to divert the water away from the bank to help reduce erosion.
Council approved several actions, including:
-- replacing lights in Cedar Park with LED through Ohio Edison for $2,090.
-- paying $1 each to E'Deana McBane and Roseland Commons for easements for a water line.
-- accepting an easement from the Columbiana County Commissioners for property needed for the South Market Street (Grant Street) bridge project and a land swap for property near the kayak launch.
-- approved a purchase order of $1,200 for J & J Tires for tires for the street department's 2019 Chevy 5500 pickup.
-- approved a purchase order of $1,572 from Unkefer's gear box for the street department's Kubota zero turn mower.
-- hired Megan Johnson of Beloit as a part-time police dispatcher.
-- approved up to $1,300 for 10 replacement batteries for the fire department's portable radios.
-- approved up to $5,500 for M&M to paint the walls in the fire hall.
In financial matters, council approved a request from Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner to transfer $100,000 from the general fund to the street department due to expenditures outpacing revenue.
She also delivered some good news regarding the increase to the village's health insurance premium, saying the first renewal offer was for a 14 percent increase, but then their broker went back and argued that the village had no large claims and got the increase down to 2 percent. Hiner didn't agree with the fact that the village is classified as a large employer, saying there aren't 50 full-time employees. Wonner said she doesn't like it either, but the insurance company is looking at the number of W-2s and the village is over 50 when taking into account full-time equivalents.
Wilson reported on two funding possibilities for the village from the state capital budget and a new program for community improvement. The deadline for both is Dec. 15 so council members were asked to come up with some ideas for projects.
The next council meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28.