Mayor Pete Wilson addresses council during a meeting on Tuesday at Village Hall. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

LISBON — While Lisbon council removed rental regulations from consideration in March, talks of how to enforce existing ordinances pertaining to property conditions in the village continued to be discussed at Tuesday’s council meeting at Village Hall.

Resident Pat Kronenberg spoke out about utilizing the police force to address high grass in the village.

“The police have become the grass police and I don’t think that’s what we want,” she said. “It would be very simple to have somebody call in and complain about grass and a letter can get sent out from the town and follow up that way. I don’t think we need to involve the police at all. It’s just a waste of their time.”

Councilwoman Melissa Hiner agreed. Hiner said she would like to see grass complaints be called into the village office now that the village has created the position of zoning clerk/mayor’s administrative assistant. Hiner said it would be a better use of resources to direct grass and minor zoning complaints that fall under Lisbon Village Code 1312 to the Village Hall and have the zoning clerk follow-up with letters if needed. Hiner asked Village Solicitor Alec Beech to look into whether an existing ordinance prevents enforcement of those violations to go through Village Hall and not the police department.

In related matters, Donna St. Clair, who has advocated for stronger rental regulations after dealing with “a nuisance property” next door to her home, asked for guidance as to what steps to take if that property’s condition begins to deteriorate again.

Hiner advised her to call the police as soon as garbage or trash starts to accumulate.

St. Clair also expressed concern over what she called poor treatment of Lisbon Mayor Pete Wilson during sometimes heated exchanges when discussing the rental regulations that Wilson proposed. Wilson was asking for a registry, registration fee and annual inspections for all Lisbon income properties in the village and asked council to consider creating a housing department within the village. His proposal was met with backlash. St. Clair said she was asked about what was perceived as lack of decorum toward Wilson by others who followed the discussions through local media reporting — both print and broadcast. St. Clair called it uncalled for and a bad look for Lisbon.

“It’s very noted. [For a mayor] to be that disrespected, that you get asked about, that’s really embarrassing,” she said.

Also addressing council on Monday was Terri Redmond who asked the speed limit on state Route 154 be reduced within the village limits. Redmond related to council accidents she has witnessed herself and said that since that area was annexed into the village years ago, the village should consider lowering the speed for safety reasons.

“We live out on 154. You know where nobody knows it’s in the village until income tax time,” Redmond said. “The speed limit on that road is 55 miles per hour. I don’t know anywhere else in the village the speed limit is 55. I would like to see that limit lowered.”

Wilson said that since it’s a state road, he wasn’t sure if the speed limit could be lowered, but said he would look into what protocols and procedures are necessary to make such a request.

Council tabled three agenda items on Monday — a decision on possibly paving the Cedar Street Park pickleball courts to obtain more information on the costs and companies who specialize in to do so, a suggestion from Wilson to name the new Grant Street Bridge after the village’s first responders, veterans or both as a way to honor those who have served in different capacities and a decision on remaking the village’s biannual clean up day an annual event until cost in doing so could be determined.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting:

— Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Noel told council the LACC’s Community Bulletin Board was recently completed by students at the Columbiana County Career and Tech Center and will be placed on Fountain Square soon.

— Council approved the purchase of a pole saw for $729.99 and up to $1,500 for sand for the volleyball courts and sand boxes.

— Council approved a request from the Lions Club to build a pavilion at Cedar Street Park and heard an offer from Jason Barnes to redo the signs at Willow Grove Park.

— Wilson gave an update on both the E. Washington St. and downtown squares paving projects. No start date has been provided for the Washington street paving of which the paving of the downtown square paving is dependent on.

— Wilson reported that the painting of the Gazebo is still on hold. Salem Home Depot has offered to donate the manpower and paint for the project but Wilson said he has not heard back regarding more details.

— Council approved Wilson’s request to apply for an ODNR Urban Forestry Grant that could be used for tree removal in Lisbon parks and the planting of trees in the village.

— Council agreed to extend the annual service contract for the recorder at a cost of $7,368.

— Council approved several agreements and resolution.They were a draft memorandum of understanding between the village and the Columbiana County EMA, participation the Drug Task Force, to exclude the City of Salem for alternative method of apportioning from LGF and a new alternative method of apportionment for 2026 LGF distribution and to participate in a RCAP Entrepreneurial Leadership seminar for public officials

— Council approved the hiring of 17 seasonal employees as lifeguards and front desk help for the pool.

— Joe and Heather Lawhorn asked and received permission to hold a third annual Coal Country Roubaix. The event has proven successful for both riders who represented 14 states and Canada this year and village businesses that saw a big boost in revenue.

selverd@mojonews.com