SALEM — The parks commission approved the removal of a damaged tree in its meeting Wednesday.

The board previously discussed the tree near pavilion two at Centennial Park in May amid the removal of three other problematic trees. At that time the tree was still alive despite suffering a lightning strike and presented no imminent danger, so Leetonia-based contractor Rydar Tree Service gave the department a quote of $3,200 guaranteed for up to a year to remove the tree should it become unstable.

Parks Director Kelli Pastore said that the tree was struck by lightning a second time late Tuesday night, and at risk of collapsing, forcing her to contact Rydar to remove the tree immediately.

“It’s making noise. The street department called me and said ‘it’s coming down, we need to do something about this right because somebody could get killed,’ so I called [Rydar] and sent them pictures at 3:30 and he said ‘I am getting in my truck right now,’ so they’re over there right now. He said if it storms tonight or gets windy it’s coming down,” said Pastore.

Commission Chairman John Panezott said that the tree’s location risked coming down on top of the pavilion, fence, or power lines if it fell. Panezott and Commissioner Don Yeasted both said that it was also a very popular area with parkgoers, and the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the quote.

Pastore also told commissioners that she had met with a representative from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Government Association on Tuesday to discuss funding opportunities including a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for long-term repairs to the Centennial Park pool. She said that applications were due in November and that she had contacted Premier Pool for a quote for repairs and a potential upgrade to the pool’s chemical system that would be more cost-effective.

The commission also discussed the Centennial Park Pool season, which has seen revenue “more than double” in the last two years, an increase that Pastore attributed to the quality of the pool staff.

“That is a direct reflection of these kids because they do a good job, they’re nice kids. I can’t say enough good things about them,” said Pastore.

The commissioners and Pastore all thanked them for their efforts in making the pool so successful and popular with residents, with Panezott championing the extremity of the achievement noting that “as a rule public pools always lose money, so for the pool to make a profit through their work is incredible.”

“It really says how incredible a job you do and thank you,” said Panezott.

While Parks Foreman Wes Bryan was not in attendance Pastore delivered his report on his behalf and said that the nature trail had been resurfaced with leftover road grindings for the upcoming cross-country season, and that the entire trail would be redone with remaining grindings soon. They also said that the faucet at pavilion one had been replaced three times in July. Yeasted asked why and Pastore said that it was due to vandalism and that people keep snapping them off at the neck, and that the last one installed had been a push button faucet which they were hoping would be more resistant to intentional damage.

The parks commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Sept. 24.