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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Park District Board voted 4-1 this week to undo the previous board's approval of rental fees for the pavilion and log cabin at Scenic Vista Park, with district commissioner Neal Bayless casting the lone no vote.
"I think there should be a nominal fee on them to keep them maintained," Bayless said when asked about his no vote.
Park District Chairman Tom Butch said the previous board voted to approve the fees but did not vote in a policy to govern the fees. In March, the previous board agreed to set fees of $50 for use of the open air pavilion and $100 for use of the historic log cabin at Scenic Vista Park, noting the fees can help pay for maintenance for the structures.
Former board member Dave Hughes, who resigned in April and wasn't in attendance when the fees were enacted, was in attendance at the meeting Monday and expressed his opinion, saying he was against the fees and use of the pavilions should be free.
"I kind of agree with him," district commissioner Kevin Todd said, adding if someone pays for a pavilion and they arrive and someone else is already there, who do they call?
Vice Chairman Eileen Dray-Bardon said the board doesn't have a policy but previously had a practice for people to preserve the used of the pavilion and it worked out okay. They never charged a fee.
"Can people make a donation for this?" district commissioner Linda Linebaugh asked.
Butch said people can always make donations.
As for the fees, he said for the little bit of money it's going to bring it, it's not worth it.
Todd moved to not collect the fees, seconded by Linebaugh, with the vote 4-1.
In other business, the board approved the final 2027 budget, which had been presented to the Columbiana County commissioners last week totaling $86,350, a nearly $6,000 increase from this year's budget. No one attended the public meeting preceding the park district meeting regarding the budget.
The park district receives no money from the county general fund. The only set funding the park district receives is $15,000 per year from the Local Government Fund distribution the county receives, which comes from the state.
In another matter related to the county, the park board voted to have the chairman send a letter to county commissioners to request funding for the purchase of a new maintenance truck, preferably 3/4-ton. Butch said commissioners still have some American Rescue Plan Act funds to spend down and the park district's pickup is getting old. When the idea of getting a plow also was suggested, Butch said the district doesn't plow the trail.
"Why not?" Bayless said.
Butch said the weather gets cold and trail would get icy and besides that, the maintenance crew doesn't work in the winter time. Bayless said he thought it was foolish that the park district doesn't plow. Some of the parking lots get plowed by volunteers, but the park district itself doesn't do it.
The board also agreed to participate in the 2026 Columbiana County Fair and the Johnny Appleseed Festival, agreed to accept three lots from the county land bank along old state Route 344 near the trail, at no cost to the park board. Dray-Bardon said the land bank will take down the buildings still there.
"I don't see any downside to us. Gives us some options," she said.