LISBON — Tom Butch and Eileen Dray-Bardon are back as members of the Columbiana County Park District Board after being appointed and sworn in Thursday afternoon.

The remaining three spots on the board may be filled by Friday, Columbiana County Probate Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi said, with background checks pending.

“I’m pleased that it’s moved along as quickly as it can at this point,” he said.

As of May 22, there were no members on the board when former Chairman Joe Lawhorn resigned May 21 and Vice Chairman Crystal Siembida Boggs resigned on May 22, both at the request of the judge. For Lawhorn, Baronzzi said he wasn’t the right fit and for Siembida Boggs, he said there was a perceived conflict of interest due to her employment with a racing company which held at least two events on the bike trail operated by the park district.

The lone member left, Megan McMaster, then submitted her resignation, too, on May 22, even though Baronzzi said he wanted her to stay. He never requested her resignation.

Since then, Baronzzi said he’s just been doing what needs to be done to get the board up and running again. Employees of the board remained intact, including the two maintenance workers and the administrative assistant.

The judge became aware that some administrative functions needed to be handled, including the signing of the payroll for the employees, so he asked Butch and Dray-Bardon if they could start now. Payroll had to be signed by a board member.

Dray-Bardon’s term will expire Dec. 31, 2027 and Butch will resume his previous term which will expire Dec. 31, 2028.

Baronzzi wouldn’t release the names of the other potential board members, in hopes of doing some background checks, saying it’s possible he may make the appointments on the condition that nothing turns up in the background checks.

When contacted about their appointments, Butch’s only comment was “we’ll have to get an organizational meeting set up soon,” to determine a meeting date, chairman and vice chairman.

Dray-Bardon commented, “If there are concerns, we want to address those concerns.”

“We want to make sure the public has confidence in the park board,” she added.

The last several months there were several exits from the board after Lawhorn was appointed last year. First Dray-Bardon left, saying at the time in October, “There are concerns with my leadership style so I thought in the best interest of the park district, I thought it best to take my leave now.”

She didn’t get into detail about what happened. Then Butch left in January, prompting a tirade of accusations and name-calling by board member at the time Dave Hughes against Lawhorn in the same meeting when Butch left, claiming Lawhorn said bad things about both Butch and Dray-Bardon and posted misleading information on social media.

Hughes later said he wouldn’t be attending any more meetings until Lawhorn left. He attended one in February, when Lawhorn wasn’t there, then quit coming altogether and resigned in April.

All the exits attracted the attention of the judge, who had some concerns about why everyone was suddenly leaving. He launched his own investigation and last week requested the two resignations, with the third coming later in the day May 22.

The park district failed in multiple attempts to get a levy passed in recent years, with the only definite income $15,000 which comes annually from the Local Government Fund. The park district relies on donations, help from the Friends of the Park and grants, occasionally getting money from county commissioners for some equipment purchases. The previous park board recently started charging for pavilion rentals.

Park board members receive no pay for what they do. The park board is responsible for Scenic Vista Park outside Lisbon, the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail which stretches from Washingtonville, through Leetonia to Lisbon, Hellbender Bluff Park outside of Lisbon, the Logtown Quarry Park outside Lisbon and the Supreme Court rock off of state Route 7, Columbiana.