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LISBON -- After months of debate and indecision, Village Council has finally chosen a location for its dog park.
Council voted at Tuesday's meeting to locate the dog park on vacant village property at the southern corner of Mill Street and Pritchard Avenue.
The site was not even among those being considered by the village until less than a month ago, when someone pointed out the village was given the property by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA purchased the property after two duplexes on the site were swept away and two others damaged from the 2004 flash flood along Mill Site Creek.
Mill Street/Pritchard Avenue was one of three locations submitted for council consideration by Parks Director Dana Blackburn. The others were the Cedar Street park and Columbiana County Park District property at the far end of South Jefferson Street. Council voted in December to go with the South Jefferson Street location but changed its mind in February after learning the park district wanted the village to mow and maintain the site.
The project is expected to cost $15,000, and Blackburn said Ohio Pet Foods of Lisbon indicated it might donate $3,000 to $4,000 but would not do so until the village committed to a site for the dog park. Blackburn said all of the other organizations and businesses she intends to approach for donations and those planning to hold fundraisers also indicated they were holding back until council made a decision.
"So we need to pick a spot," said Mayor Joseph Morenz.
Council member Jerry Cox made a motion they go with the Mill Street/Pritchard Avenue site because the square footage was about the same as the other proposed sites and it also has access to municipal water. "I feel its the perfect location," he said, with council then unanimously approving his motion.
There is no nearby parking, but Cox said patrons would park along the road.
A key player in development of the dog park is local Boy Scout Kyle Claypool, who is making it his Eagle Scout project. Claypool will help Blackburn with fundraising and securing donations as well as helping with site work.