LEETONIA — Village council had a slight change of plans regarding the property leased from Norfolk Southern earlier this year.

Assistant Village Administrator Roman Ferry explained Thursday that instead of the initial one-year lease agreement Leetonia had been pursuing with NS, members decided on a longer term. The start date has also changed in the new legislation.

Therefore, during Wednesday’s regular meeting, members had to retract its initial passage or readings on the resolution accepting the NS lease terms and then readopt a new resolution instead, granting them use of the acreage until May 31, 2030.

Per the 10-page lease agreement, Leetonia will lease 2.34 acres for beautification purposes for the next four years at a cost of $2,500 annually, Ferry explained.

There was no difference in cost despite the lengthening of the lease terms.

Once the lease expires, the village must remove any of its “moveable equipment and trade figures” plus repair any alternations made to the property, leaving it in its original state.

Ferry said though village officials are leaning toward using the property for installation of an additional green space near the tracks, several residents have expressed interest in constructing a dog park in the area.

He said officials also have been in talks with an adjacent property owner to also lease some of his acreage.

Discussions continued about contracting with one waste provider for garbage pickup for village residents.

In other action, village council accepted the resignation of street department employee Kyler Bourne effective April 3 as he secured a job closer to home and approved the permanent appropriations budget for 2026.

Council will next meet at 6:30 p.m. April 15 in the village hall.