Pictured above, village council candidate Joe Vitko addresses council during Tuesday’s meeting. Vitko requested that candidates running for council participate in a public forum where candidates would talk about key issues and positions and take questions from the public. Vitko suggested the forum take part in October possibly at one of Lisbon’s schools. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

LISBON — After years of discussion and months spent revising Lisbon’s out-dated zoning code, Mayor Peter Wilson is hopeful the new code will be adopted in February 2026.

Council passed an ordinance in July 2025 to initiate the statutory process for amendment and revision of the code. The process will involve reviews by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), Planning Commission (BCU), and village council, as well as public input, before any final changes are adopted.

Zoning officer Zackary Barkley gave council an update on that process during Tuesday’s meeting. The BZA and BPU will review the revisions on Sept. 24.

“Once they have their meeting and have their certified recommendations, it will go to council and council will meet to discuss those certified recommendations and then the council can move forward on the rest of the process,” he said.

The new code has to be in circulation for 30 days by state rules but council needs to accept those recommendations within 30 days according to village procedure.

“Our own language is kind of against us,” Barkley added.

Tracey Wonner suggested a public hearing be set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 28, giving enough time to “run the legal ad and be in compliance.”

Council agreed and Barkley asked for community members to share input and feedback as early as they can.

“I urge any council members that hear from anybody that they are interested in having a say about [the revisions] to come on the 24th of September so that way all those questions can be put before the BZA and BCU,” Barkley said. “Anybody that wants to come to the [public hearing] of course they are more than welcome to but the more we get out of the way in September means less we have to do and we can get this before the council at the end of October.”

Three readings are needed to pass the revised code and it will go into effect 30 days after the third early next year.

Council also received an update from Wilson on the initiative replace the bridge at Willow Grove Park as it continues to pursue grant . Wilson recently applied for the OMEGA RTPO Capital Allocation grant and said the grading process for that grant was set for Wednesday which he planned to attend to see how Lisbon’s application “fared” and what he can do to make a future application “stronger” in the event the funds are not awarded to Lisbon. Wilson said all 11 applicants in Lisbon’s region were invited to the process and there is $6 million available. The grant gives up to $500,00 or 50% of construction costs. The village has also already collected over $16,000 in private donations toward the bridge which is expected to cost $930,000. The old bridge was swept away by a major flash flood in 2004.

Wilson also asked for and received a resolution granting him permission to apply for the 2025 Urban Forestry. Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) grants awards of up to $25,000 to nonprofits and local municipalities for the purchase and planting of trees for public benefit.

In other news, council heard that the pump at the pool will need to be replaced before next season. The condition of the pump forced the village pool to prematurely close for the season. With the pool closed, work is underway to locate a leak that has been an ongoing problem.

Council also discussed the pickle ball courts after resident Joe DeCort returned to advocate for improvements. DeCort has addressed the council several times over the issue. Council heard the village is still waiting for definite dimensions of the pavilion the Lions Club is donating to the park near the pickleball courts. That led to tabling any decision regarding repairing the drainage at the court. Wilson said, in related news, he learned of a grant possibility through the state earmarked for pickleball court that would cover 75% percent of a new court or renovations to the old one.

“It’s a 25% match but we could get a really nice pickleball court at a really good price,” he said.

A meeting for both the finance and personnel committees was set for Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss raises for all village employees. Council president Melissa Hiner suggested a 3.5% increase and said she is hesitant to go any higher as the movement to abolish property tax in the state and on which Lisbon receives over $125,000 from its gaining ground.

Council also accepted letters of resignation from the Board of Zoning Appeals by Tena Liberati and Melinda Belaney from the Architectural Design and Review Board and is seeking letters of interest to fill both vacancies. Council set a deadline for submitting the letters at 4 p.m. on Sept. 5.

Also at the meeting:

— Bill Hoover of the Lisbon Board of Public affairs told council that the village’s new water tower will begin filling on Sept. 4.

— Village council candidate Joe Vitko requested that candidates running for council participate in a public forum where candidates would talk about key issues and positions and take questions from the public.Vitko suggested the forum take part in October possibly at one of Lisbon’s schools.

— Council approved on its first reading Ordinance 2234-2025, which would revise skateboard regulations in the village. The current legislation which was passed in the 1990s bans all skateboarding within the village. The new code will mirror Ohio Revised Code on skateboarding.

— Council created a job description for the a part-time position within the water department.