LISBON — With the Grant Street Bridge replacement project in the books, the Village of Lisbon continues to focus on improving village infrastructure, turning its attention to the Pritchard Avenue bridge at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The existing bridge, located near McKinley School and carries traffic over Little Beaver Creek, was built in 1938. No major work has been done on it since the 1970s, even after homes crashed into and under it during the Lisbon floods in 2004. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the project will replace the bridge with a composite prestressed box beam.

Soil sampling and easement studies were approved in October.

Wilson reported the village has started work on the five right-of-ways needed to advance the project. Two are owned by the village and will require just a “simple resolution.” The easement process is “hoping to be finished by the end of this year” with construction set for mid-2026.

“These right-of-ways acquisition easements will be the last step to start construction,” Wilson said.

Like the $4 million Grant Bridge replacement, the $1.6 million Pritchard Bridge project will be funded mostly by grants.

Council also moved forward on replacing the bridge at Willow Grove Park by passing a resolution that grants Wilson permission to apply for the OMEGA RTPO Capital Allocation grant. The resolution is needed for the application process. The grant gives up to $500,00 or 50% of construction costs. Wilson said he plans to apply for another $200,000 in funding for the project. The village has also already collected over $16,000 in private donations towards the bridge which is expected to cost $930,000.

The bridge will connect Greenway Trail to Willow Grove Park and replace the former cable suspension bridge that washed away 20 years ago.

Council also held a third reading of the ordinance granting authorization to revise the village zoning code. The next steps are for the revisions and proposed amendments to go before the planning commission and then the board of zoning appeals votes. If approved, council will be presented with the draft code within the next 30 to 40 days.

In other matters, council approved selling village-owned vehicles (a 2005 quarter-ton truck and 1996 bucket truck) placed on govdeals.com, despite the bids coming in under the bid ceiling. The highest bid for the 2005 F250 was $1,800 (the reserved bid was $3,500) and $1,725 for 1996 F450 (the reserve bid was$2,500). Council decided in lieu of relisting or scrapping the trucks to offer the vehicles to the higher bidders of the last auction.

Council clerk Tracey Wonner told council that moving forward more detailed descriptions and photos of both the interior and exteriors of the vehicles when posting on the website.

Council learned of vacancies on the Board of Zoning Appeals and Architectural Review Board. The village is seeking letters — to be emailed to the mayor at lisbonmayorpeterwilson@gmail.com or dropped off at Village Hall between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. — for both vacancies.

The Board of Public Affairs reported that it is seeking a part-time laborer. Applications are available at Village Hall at 203 N. Market St., Lisbon. Applicants must have a CDL.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting,

— Council granted permission to the Lisbon Little Blue Devils (LLBD) to paint Devil logos on the village sidewalks in front of businesses and residences as part of a fundraiser. The cost to get a “Retro Devil” to show your school spirit and the support LLBD is $20 and $10 for each additional Devil. A form is available on the Lisbon Little Blue Devils facebook page to place an order.

— Council heard that repairs to the drainage around the pickleball courts at Cedar Street Park on hold until the Lions Club provides the village with construction plans of the pavilion the Lions Club will build at the park as a gift to the village.

— Council woman Melissa Hiner asked that the new skateboard ordinance which will repeal and replace the existing one which currently bans all skateboarding in the village, be ready for council to vote on at the next meeting. Hiner said the existing code was passed in the 90s when skateboarding had become a nuisance and that the legislation clearly is outdated.

— Council approved transfers from the general fund to the street fund ($50,000) and pool fund ($25,000).

— Council approved the hiring of both a part-time police officer and a part-time dispatcher.

— Council approved a quote ($2,200) from Barnes Tree Service to remove and trim trees at the Cedar Street Park and to purchase new chairs for dispatchers ($3,392).

— Council approved the transfer of $50,000 to the street fund from the general fund, and $25,000 to the pool fund from the general fund.

— Council heard from a resident concerning the condition of a home on Sherman Street. Police Chief Mike Abraham reported the owner and his department are working together to clean up the property and progress has been made.

selverd@mojonews.com