LISBON — Lisbon Village Council took a step toward selling off the climbing cliffs, passing a motion to entertain bids for the property coveted by the Columbiana County Park District and the Western Reserve Conservancy.

Mayor Pete Wilson, who has called selling the cliffs “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the village” and a “win-win” asked council to pass action at Tuesday’s council meeting that would allow the process to be further pursued.

In July, council heard from the park district and the conservancy on the groups’ proposal to purchase the cliff faces and parts of the Willow Grove Park.

Western Reserve Conservancy is hoping for one of two things — a purchase conservation easement for 60 acres or a fee title acquisition for 41 acres. The latter of which would not include parcels within Willow Grove Park and its infrastructure. The areas being pursued by the Western Reserve Conservancy are along the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail next to the Kerestes property. The village would still maintain ownership of the property but with restrictions put into place for conservation purposes.

The purchasing process, however, would have to be completed through an auction with the village reserving a right of refusal.

Based on other property values in the area, a fee-title acquisition could fetch $12,000 an acre with an easement bringing in $1,000 an acre.

In May, the Kerestes property (nearly 30 acres of property that included the main cliffs at Logtown) was purchased by the Columbiana Park District through the Western Reserve Land Conservancy for $300,000 to develop the area into a rock-climbing destination. But it turned out the Kerestes property did not include the popular climbing cliffs area. The village of Lisbon owns the cliff face while the park district owns the top part –not the actual cliff where climbers climb.

To complete the park district’s vision, the Lisbon property is needed.

In other business, Wilson told council that a scope of work proposal for work and repairs to the swimming pool will be presented at the next council meeting on Oct. 14. A new filtration system which could cost between $85,000 and $115,000 is needed and repairing or placing the pool’s eastern wall could push the project to $200,000. A scope of work is needed to move forward on the state-mandated process to get the ball rolling.

Council also discussed the liquor license permit for Lisbon Convenience LLC which plans to open a store at the former location of Lincoln Social Hall at 126 W. Lincoln Way. Council decided to request a public meeting in Lisbon regarding the license as the store would be located in close proximity to a preschool.

Council heard from the Board of Public Affairs (BPA) that the new water tower should go tentatively online in Nov. 20 with start-ups tests scheduled for Oct. 7.

In other business, council:

– Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner asked and received permission to renew the village’s health insurance coverage as the premium was 4% higher –far less than expected.

– Heard of an opportunity through the Columbiana County Soil and Water Conservation District to slow soil erosion at Willow Grove Park at no cost to the village.

– Granted the BPA authorization to apply for OPWC aid for the North Market Street Sewer line.

– Agreed to repair the street department’s Kubota zero-turn mower from Hilltop Lawn & Garden ($586); purchase street signs from Municipal Signs and Sales (up to $2,000); purchase a plow from Myer Equipment ($2,854); and contract Barnes Tree Service for tree removal and trunk grinding at Cedar Park ($1,450).

– Passed a revision to the skateboarding ordinance with a third reading allowing skateboarding in the village and following Ohio Revised Code.

– Appointed Barb DeCort as a new member of the Architectural Design and Review Board.

– Entered into executive session to discuss employment of a public employee with no action taken.