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To the editor:
When county residents vote on November 8 they will see a new tax levy for operation and maintenance of the Columbiana County Park District.
The County Park District consists of Scenic Vista Park in Center Township, Hellbender Bluff Park in Madison Township and the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail which runs from Washingtonville to Lisbon.
The best known of these parks is Greenway Trail. Attracting thousands of visitors per year, this trail is a major attraction for our county. The Greenway Trail is part of two regional trail systems, the Lake to River Greenway Trail and the Industrial Heartland Trail.
The Lake to River Trail will run from Lake Erie to the Ohio River when completed. The I Heart Trail is a four-state regional trail system. Once the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail is completed from Lisbon to meet the trail to be built along the Ohio River in East Liverpool, then the trail will be completed from lake to the river, and the trail will be part of the main corridor of the I Heart Trail from Pittsburgh to Ashtabula. It will provide a large economic boost to Columbiana County when completed.
The Park District is administered by a board of five volunteers who are appointed by the county probate court judge. They operate with a staff of three part-time employees. The annual budget of the Park District consists of $15,000 in Local Government Funds and a small amount of royalties from oil and gas wells at Scenic Vista Park. Since 2011 they have been supplementing these funds with proceeds from an oil and gas lease, which are running out.
The Park District has placed a .35 mill levy on the November ballot. The passage of this levy is essential for the future of the Park District and the Greenway Trail and their others properties. Please join me in voting YES for the County Park District Levy.
GREGORY T. BRICKER,
Mayor,
East Liverpool