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LISBON -- A proposed skate park remains on the agenda for Lisbon Village Council's meeting tonight, but nothing's set in stone at this point for the proposed idea in discussions since June.
During a recent meeting of the Parks Committee of village council, Mayor Peter Wilson said "the idea might be to just give them a lease."
The spot picked out by the skate park proponents is owned by the village and located south of Jefferson and east of Market, near the Columbiana County Park District maintenance building.
Wilson said at the last council meeting and at the committee meeting that he doesn't want the people involved to go through a lot of work and expense before council decides whether the land can be used for a skate park. He noted that the group is going to have a dunk tank as a fundraiser during the Johnny Appleseed Festival next month.
Councilman Jerry Cox pointed out council is still waiting for an answer from legal counsel and said the group should have to go through the permit process. Councilman Joe Morenz said he didn't know if they should lease them the whole property or just what's needed for the 70-foot by 70-foot pad.
A woman at the committee meeting questioned whether this would be a private skate park or public if the property is leased to them. Wilson said the dog park is leased also and it's public.
Morenz said that could be part of the lease paperwork, that it must be for a public park.
She also questioned whether the village would have to maintain it, with Wilson saying the group indicated they would maintain it.
Morenz said the permit would be to make sure all of the village's rule and regulations are followed, such as whether it's even allowed to be there. He said there would be plenty of parking at that location.
Parks Committee Chairman Zachary Smith said they could look at Cedar Park.
"But then it would be our responsibility," Morenz said.
The idea of the skate park was first presented to council in June when Brody McCreight and his father Jeremy both addressed council and were accompanied by six other skateboarders. At the time, Brody said it could be small with just a couple of ramps and other features and talked about open land below the former Shenanigan's Pub at the end of South Jefferson Street.
"We did more research and we want to move this forward," Jeremy said at the last meeting.
He said the group now has an attorney helping them with insurance and other details for a non-profit. He said plans call for high tech cameras to be installed and a company is ready to donate the concrete for the pad. He said the group would take care of all the costs.
He also commented that he knows there have been a couple people not wanting this, but the kids need something to do.
The size of pad planned will accommodate three ramps and three rails.
Councilwoman Melissa Hiner, who serves as council president, said she didn't know how the village could have volunteers build it. Other questions arose on whether that property is in a flood zone, whether the zoning would allow a skate park and other issues such as maintenance.
Hiner said she thinks it's a great idea, but she's not sure how they can do it.
"We can't afford a pickleball court and now we're talking about a skate park?" she said.
In other business during recent meetings, Wilson reported that state Route 164 in the village will be repaved starting Sept. 8, along with state Route 45 from Jerome up to Saltwell. The streets in the village to be affected would include Washington Street and Market Street, with the work to be done at night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. He said the Ohio Department of Transportation knows about the Johnny Appleseed Festival, but the work should be completed before that weekend.
Council approved first reading of the 2026/2027 payroll ordinance, which includes raises of 3.5%. The second reading is expected tonight.
Council accepted the resignation of full-time police officer Samantha Wolfe, who's leaving for another department and promoted part-time police officer Hunter Dailey to full-time. Council chose Soltis as the best bid for electrical repairs at the Cedar Park pavilion for $2,450. Other bidders included Fred Pastore for $2,200 and BGM for $2,300. Up to $2,500 was approved for a catch basin in the alley between Lincoln Way and Washington Street.