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Lisbon Council seeking CRA committee members

LISBON –Village Council needs a few more good men and women to serve on the new committee that comes with the village’s designation as a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA).

Councilman Ryan Berg, who has taken the lead on obtaining the CRA designation, reported at Tuesday’s council meeting the designation has received final approval from the Ohio Development Services Agency. With that accomplished, council could now approve creation of a CRA Housing Council, which it did.

The CRA designation encompasses the entire town and allows council to grant tax breaks of up to 100 percent for 10-15 years on property taxes generated by new residential construction or improvements. Similar tax breaks are available for commercial development and new construction as well.

The seven-member CRA Council is to consist of two mayoral appointees, one planning commission appointee, two Village Council members, with CRA committee then appointing two more members. Anyone interested in filling those positions can submit their application to the mayor’s office.

Whenever a CRA tax break is granted, the council is to inspect the properties within the CRA area that are receiving the tax exemption. Council also hears appeals and can overrule any decisions made by the housing officer regarding the tax breaks.

In other action, council granted police Chief Mike Abraham to purchase three new AEDs, portable medical devices that deliver electrical shocks to help resuscitate someone having a heart attack. The AEDs are kept in the police vehicles for use by the officers.

Abraham said the net cost to council will be $2,417 because Lisbon Eagles recently donated $1,000 to the police auxiliary, which will be used to offset the cost.

Councilman Jerry Cox received the tacit approval of his colleagues to sell unused village vehicles and equipment through the Baer Auction’ online auction service.

As an example, Cox said the best scrap price he could receive for the old fire truck was $900, and he believes they can receive considerably more money if they try to sell it. Street Supervisor Jim Oliver said he had some equipment he would like to add to the auction list.

During the meeting, council learned about the continuing problem of people dumping yard brush and grass clippings over the high wall in the old stone quarry, which is a popular spot for rock climbers. Parks Director Dana Blackburn said a “no dumping” sign erected last year was stolen, and she even sent informational letters to property owners who live above the high wall asking them not to dump yard debris into the quarry.

“I didn’t receive one, young lady,” said Barry James, who lives on Sunset Drive. Blackburn indicated she left James off the list because she believed he did not need a reminder.

Oliver said he can purchase new “no dumping” signs that include additional writing warning climbers may be below.

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