LISBON — The Columbiana County Park District Board approved next year’s proposed budget totaling $86,350, hired a second seasonal maintenance worker and approved a roof repair contract during a special meeting Monday.

“Our biggest expenses are utilities, employees and port-a-jons,” Chairman Tom Butch said, along with maintenance.

Butch discussed financial matters with board members Linda Linebaugh, Neal Bayless and Kevin Todd to kick off the special session, reviewing the revenue, expenses and balance as of May 31.

“This is all the money we have,” he said.

Butch explained the only definite money the park district receives is $15,000 annually from the Local Government Fund distribution the county receives. He pointed out the year-to-date summary, again as of May 31, which showed $21,140 in revenue, $19,206 in expenses and a current fund balance of $97,514.

Questions were asked about the line item for PERS, which is the Public Employee Retirement System, which is required for the three part-time employees. There was also a cell phone reimbursement line, which was for the district phone, and reimbursed the credit card used to pay for the phone minutes.

Todd noted that the percentage of appropriation used for maintenance was already at 89% to 90%, but Butch said money can be transferred from another line item to increase the appropriation, which has to go through a meeting and to the county auditor’s office.

There was discussion about the port-a-jons and Butch said they’re taken out during the winter time. The park district pays for four of them, all Americans With Disabilities Act compliant. The Friends of the Parks pays for a fifth port-a-jon located at the Logtown Road parking lot. Administrative Assistant Mark Guy told board members he learned there’s a government cap of $196 per unit per month. The port-a-jons may be discussed further at the regular meeting in July regarding increasing the number of cleanings and what to do for next year.

In discussing the new 2027 budget, Butch announced the park district will have a budget hearing with county commissioners at 9:05 a.m. July 8. Next year’s budget of $86,350 is $6,030 higher than this year’s budget which totaled $80,320.

The breakdown, with this year’s amount in parentheses, included: $41,000 ($40,000) for salaries for the part-time administrative assistant and two seasonal maintenance workers; $1,000 (same) for programs/brochures; $1,450 ($1,320) for office supplies including postage, website domain, email & Microsoft Office subscription, paper/toner; $8,900 ($8,500) for utilities; $13,000 ($10,000) for restroom facilities for port-a-jon rentals and cleaning; $13,000 ($12,000) for maintenance, including park facilities, Greenway trail, fuel and supplies; $1,200 ($1,000) for equipment; $500 (same) for legal services; and $6,300 ($6,000) for other expenses.

“Anything major contained in Other?” Todd asked. “Is that just a catch all?”

Both Butch and Guy talked about logistical needs. Linebaugh asked whether there was an increase expected for website domain. Guy said with the overall budget, he took into account the fact that costs are going up, not down.

In other matters, the board agreed to hire Mike Fisher Roofing, LLC of Salem to make repairs to the roof of the park office building. Butch received a quote from Fisher for $1,100 to remove shingles on the rear section 3 feet up, install an ice and water shield, install a drip edge, install new shingles to match and clean up and haul away all debris. The roof leaked this winter into the office. When asked about the time frame for the work, Butch said he would find out after contacting Fisher about the approved contract.

The board also hired Shawn Luketic of Salem as the second seasonal maintenance worker at a rate of $13.61 per hour, noting his former experience as a maintenance worker with the Salem Parks Department. He also has his own landscaping business. Luketic was one of four candidates who were interviewed for the position, with Butch and Todd conducting the interviews. Todd said they were all good, but some had no relevant experience and Luketic did. Luketic will join Tom Carman on the two-man maintenance crew. Carman was hired at the last meeting.

For informational items, Butch updated board members on two grants the park district has with projects pending, one for $1 million to make repairs to the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail and another for $500,000.

Butch confirmed that a previously set date of June 26 for a grand opening and ribbon cutting for Logtown Stone Quarry Park has been postponed and will be reset for later in the year.

He announced the Friends of the Park will host the annual bike and hike fundraiser on the Greenway trail from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11, with four checkpoints set up where riders and walkers can check in and buy T-shirts that will be available for $20 each. The checkpoints will be set up at the Leetonia/Washington Street Trailhead, Franklin Square/Lisbon Road Trailhead, state Route 164, Lisbon Trailhead and a spot on Eagleton Road not far from the Teegarden covered bridge. The park district will use the opportunity to set out some free bike helmets for kids that were secured by the previous board.

The next regular meeting of the park district board will be 5:30 p.m. July 13. The board set regular meetings for the second Monday of each month.