LISBON — The Columbiana County Park District Board welcomed new member Joe Lawhorn and approved a proposed 2026 tax budget totaling $80,320 for expenses for next year during a meeting earlier this week.

Lawhorn was sworn in last week by county Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi as the newest park district commissioner, appointed to the unexpired term of former longtime board member Dottie Betz, who resigned in May. His term will expire Dec. 31, 2026.

A retired U.S. Marine, Lawhorn organized and has served as the race director of the Coal Country Roubaix bicycle race in Lisbon for two years. According to a biographical press release, he’s a professional cyclist who in the past six weeks set his 10th world record and accomplished an 864-mile bicycle race called Race Across the West to make him the first person in cycling history to have completed Race Across America’s Triple Crown, consisting of Race Across American, Race Across the West and Race Across the East.

A resident of Columbiana County and the Lisbon area for over two years, he’s been active in the community and along with his wife Heather, they sponsor kids’ teams and leagues and participate in every parade and village gatherings. He’s also helped sponsor the park district. He previously worked directly with the Ross County Park District and said he “wants to get involved to help better the community.”

During the public hearing for the tax budget prior to the park district board meeting, no one from the public attended or spoke. The park district relies on $15,000 from the Local Government Fund, donations (including from Friends of the Park), grants and the district’s cash carryover balance to operate. The current balance of the cash account is $147,500.

The total of the expected expenditures next year is $80,320, with half of that covering salaries for the part-time administrative assistant ($15,000) and two seasonal maintenance employees (12,500 each). Board members are volunteers and do not get paid.

Other expenses include $12,000 for maintenance which includes the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail, park facilities, fuel and supplies, $10,000 for Port-A-Jon rentals and cleaning, $8,500 for utilities for the parks, garage and office, $1,320 for office supplies including postage, website domain, paper/toner and email and Microsoft Office subscription, $1,000 for programs/brochures, $1,000 for equipment, $500 for legal services and $6,000 for other expenses that may come up.

In past years, the park district has received grants to assist with trail maintenance, along with funding from the county commissioners to help out with specific needs, such as mowers, and assistance from fundraisers and Friends of the Park.

In other business, the board approved advertising for bids for the sale of a 12-foot landscape trailer and an 18-foot car hauler. All bids must be received by 2 p.m. Aug. 11 at the park district office, 130 Maple St., Lisbon. The trailer and car hauler are both available for inspection by appointment. The bids will be opened at 3 p.m. Aug. 12. The board will meet at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12. During the meeting, board member Dave Hughes questioned whether a minimum bid should be listed, but it was pointed out that there’s a line that says the Columbiana County Park District reserves the right to reject any and all all bids.

Under maintenance, board Vice Chairman Tom Butch said they’re still waiting for a company to check on a water leak at the garage and there’s still an issue with a gate. He also reported a company looked at the the furnace/air conditioner at the office and due to the age of the equipment, can’t work on it. He talked about getting a quote for a new furnace/air conditioning system. The county commissioners own the building so the decision was made to talk with them first.

The park district discussed what to do with a Sharp Street, Salem property the district owns after it was donated to the district by the county land bank. Plans had been to put a pocket park there, but now the district is talking about donating the small piece of land to the city. Board member Crystal Siembida Boggs said she knows the park director in Salem and will approach her.

Board members voted to approve placing a tri-fold informational brochure at the new kiosk at the state Route 164 trailhead built by Ashlee Hardy for her Eagle Scout project. The brochure will include information about how to donate to the park district.

The board also gave permission for a wedding party rental until 11 p.m. Sept. 6 at Scenic Vista Park, with the understanding all cleanup must be done the park vacated by then, and also gave permission to set up the night before and for a family member to spend the night in a camper to keep an eye on everything. There is no cost for the pavilion rental. Lawhorn lives nearby and said he can check on them.

In other matters, the board approved a 15-year lien required to be in place for the state capital budget money for culvert repairs, approved a resolution authorizing the grant agreement with the Ohio Trail Partnership, renewed the $500 contract for legal services with the county prosecutor, and approved a new website which will cost less for the domain. The board also declined to allow a permanent sign related to the route turnaround for the Mary Ann McGuire Memorial 5K, with Boggs abstaining since she’s involved in organizing similar races. She also abstained when the board approved use of the garage as the starting point for the Halloween 5K Dash, which she’s involved in organizing.

The next board meeting is set for 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Maple Street headquarters.

mgreier@mojonews.com