LISBON - Village officials want a meeting to discuss a Columbiana County Fair Board proposal to close the fairgrounds entrance on Morris Street and open a new one off Vista Drive.
Village Council member Mary Ann Gray told a meeting of the street committee the fair board sent the village a letter requesting permission to create a new Gate C off Vista Drive while closing the existing Gate C entrance on Morris Street. To do this, the fair board would need council's approval since Vista Drive is a village street.
According to the letter from fair board Secretary/Treasurer Tressa Hall, the new Gate C will create additional parking while providing easier access onto the grounds for the amusement ride company since it will open into the area where the rides are set up.
Street Supervisor Bill McClelland said it is his understanding the new Gate C and other changes in that area would allow the amusement ride company to provide more and larger rides.
"I don't see it as a problem myself," McClelland said.
Neither did the other two committee members, Roger Gallo and Ryan Hillman, nor councilman Joe Morenz and Mayor Mike Lewis, both of whom sat in on the meeting.
The fair board wants the new Gate C operational by the start of this year's fair in late July. The entrance would be gravel the first year and then chipped and sealed afterwards when the other fair board roads are resurfaced. McClelland said he would also insist on a gate being installed to prevent the road from being used when the fair is closed.
Lewis said before they go any further he would like to meet with fair officials to work out the details and get everything put into writing for the parties to sign.
"I wouldn't say our dealings with the fair board have been less than aboveboard" but past dealings indicate they seem to suffer from memory lapses, he said.
In other news, Gray told the committee they received the results of an appraisal of property the village is looking at as a possible new home for the street department, which is currently housed in the former Center Township garage off South Jefferson Street, now owned by the county Park District. The village has been renting the space for $200 a month ever since the former street department garage was irreparably damaged by the flash flood of August 2004.
The village is interested the former J & G Inc. trucking building located just north of town off state Route 45 behind the Valero gas station. The owner wants $350,000 for the 4,800-square-foot four-bay metal building, which currently is used to store recreational vehicles.
The appraiser hired by the village estimated the value of the building and 0.75 acre lot at $154,000. The county auditor's office has the building and entire 2.1 acre lot appraised for $170,350.
"I will go back to square one at that price," Gray said of the $350,000 price tag set by the owner.
The committee decided to show the appraisal to the owner and take it from there.
