New members of the Columbiana County Park District Board from left, Neal Bayless of Leetonia, Eileen Dray-Bardon of Rogers, Tom Butch of Salem, Linda Linebaugh of Columbiana and Kevin Todd of New Waterford pose with Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi on Friday. The new board will hold its first meeting at 11:30 a.m. Monday at board offices on Maple Street in Lisbon. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

By MARY ANN GREIER

Staff Writer

LISBON — The Columbiana County Park District Board is back to full capacity, with two former members who agreed to return welcoming three new board members who were sworn in Friday.

Columbiana County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi had already appointed and sworn in former longtime members Tom Butch of Salem and Eileen Dray-Bardon of Rogers on Wednesday. On Friday, he appointed and swore in Neal Bayless of Leetonia, Linda Linebaugh of Columbiana and Kevin Todd of New Waterford. Butch and Dray-Bardon also participated in the swearing-in even though they were already official.

The new board members will hold their first meeting at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the board offices on Maple Street in Lisbon to organize, needing to determine when meetings will be in the future and choosing a chairman and vice chairman.

They’ll also have to start working on finding maintenance personnel since part-time maintenance workers Jon Bartholow and Daniel Narbey both resigned after the mass exit of previous board members Joe Lawhorn, Crystal Siembida Boggs and Megan McMaster last week. Mark Guy remains as the part-time administrative assistant.

The park district board oversees operation of the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail which stretches from Washingtonville through Lisbon, Scenic Vista Park, Hellbender Bluff Park, Logtown Stone Quarry Park and the Supreme Court Rock off of state Route 7.

The expiration dates of the terms for each board member include: Bayless, Dec. 31, 2026; Dray-Bardon, Todd and Linebaugh, Dec. 31, 2027; and Butch, Dec. 31, 2028.

Butch remains involved with the Friends of the Park non-profit, but said a prosecutor’s opinion will be sought on whether it’s a conflict for him to do both. Dray-Bardon said that will be one of the likely topics for the meeting.

When asked for comment on joining the board, Todd said he’s looking forward to the challenge.

A retired design engineer in the aviation industry, Todd holds a bachelor’s degree in aviation management and a master’s degree in business administration from New York Institute of Technology. He’s lived in Columbiana County for 35 years, served as assistant cubmaster with New Waterford Cub Scout Pack 70, Committee and Badge Counselor with New Waterford Boy Scout Troop 70 and Badge Counselor (aviation) for Columbiana Scout Troop 18. He’s a past councilman, president of council and chair of finance and safety committee for New Waterford Village Council.

He said he and his family and the scouts have hiked many of the trails at Beaver Creek State Park and at Hellbender Bluff Park and appreciated the efforts of the park board and volunteers.

“I have reviewed the mission and vision of the parks board and believe that I can add some value to the process. I have also reviewed the strategic plan and have been impressed with the thoroughness and honesty of that document,” Todd said.

Linebaugh holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and owns a local housekeeping company, dealing with the day-to-day operations of budgeting and managing staff and staying on top of operational costs. She said that’s vital experience for a board tasked with managing public funds and maintaining county infrastructure.

She is a member of the Columbiana City Board of Zoning Appeals and said “this role has taught me how to function effectively within a public board, listen to community concerns and make fair, objective decisions that benefit the city. I am comfortable with the public meeting process and understand the responsibility that comes with representing out residents.”

Linebaugh has also served as a scout master and has a lifelong love of the outdoors, teaching young people about conservation and respect for natural resources.

“I am an active user of our county’s trails and parks, and I am passionate about ensuring these spaces remain well-maintained and accessible for everyone in Columbiana County to enjoy,” she said.

Bayless works as an accountant/engineer in statistical analysis and program management, currently with AT&T Mobility where he’s team leader, and has a background in accounting and business management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Indiana Wesleyan University and an associate’s degree in business from the University of Phoenix.

He previously served on Leetonia Village Council as a councilman “elected on (a) platform of fiscal commitment toward growth, new revenue streams, and networking county and state leaders to prioritize the Village of Leetonia for grants, low/no interest loans and focused state initiatives.”

While with council, he was part of the Tax Incentive Review Board to bring manufacturing growth and sustainability, founder and chair of the budget and finance committee, member of the zoning ad planning committee, help write and pass the Community Reinvestment Area legislation and identified opportunities to increase funding through public and private investment.

Bayless was a founding member of the Columbiana County Visitors Bureau and a board member and was a member of the Steel Valley Triathlon Club.

Butch and Dray-Bardon agreed to return to the board after recent exits. Dray-Bardon resigned in October and Butch resigned in January. Dray-Bardon’s seat had been filled by McMaster, but Butch’s seat had not been filled until now, with Butch reappointed to his former term. Former board member Dave Hughes resigned in April, leaving the normally five-member board with just three members.

Baronzzi last week asked for the resignations of both Lawhorn and Siembida Boggs, saying Lawhorn wasn’t a good fit after serving since last July and finding the appearance of a conflict for Siembida Boggs, who was employed by a company that hosted at least two events on the bike trail. She had served since January 2025 The judge didn’t want McMaster to leave, but she decided to resign also after just four months.

mgreier@mojonews.com