LISBON — Judy Noel of the Lisbon Fireworks Committee updated village council on the upcoming festivities set for July 2 at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds, stressing it’s a free event.

“We expect a very large crowd,” she said.

Noel made a request for the Lisbon Police Department to provide security for the event, with Police Chief Mike Abraham asking her to stop in his office to talk about it.

Last year’s inaugural fireworks at the fairgrounds attracted a crowd of 4,000, but with this being the 250th anniversary of America, Noel is expecting a lot more people. Gates open at noon and there will be 15 food trucks where food can be purchased, games, inflatables, even axe throwing.

Music starts at 4 p.m. featuring the Chris Higbee Band, Rob Covert and Jack & the Cadavers. There’s also a cornhole tournament with a $20 team buy-in, with registration on the Lisbon Fireworks 2026 Facebook page, where information about the celebration can be found.

The fireworks are paid for strictly by donations from businesses and individuals. Donations may be sent to Lisbon Fireworks, P.O. Box 8, Lisbon, Ohio 44432. Emails can sent to lisbonfireworks@gmail.com. There’s a 50/50 cash raffle, with tickets available at local merchants.

The fireworks begin once it becomes dark.

“It’s gonna be a great evening,” she said.

In other business, council approved a memorandum of understanding for the Active Transportation Plan with the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT is covering the cost for a consulting firm, Toole Design, to work with village officials and provide technical assistance to prepare the ATP.

Mayor Peter Wilson updated council on an upcoming Engagement Day when personnel from Toole will come to town on July 16 and do two public walks, one traveling northbound from the square up to Saltwell Road and one traveling from East Lincoln Way to West Lincoln Way, then they’ll stage an event at noon on the square, talking to members of the public.

The whole idea is to look at ways to improve walking and biking in the village by looking at the current state of walking and biking with a focus on the schools, connections to the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail and sidewalks in the northern neighborhoods and around county service buildings. The company will also identify local infrastructure improvements, identify supportive non-infrastructure programs, identify top priorities for implementation and build community consensus.

Wilson said having the ATP in place “will pave the way for us to apply for grants.”

Councilwoman Melissa Hiner said it’s a great idea, but expressed concern about not having the personnel to be part of monthly phone meetings.

“I think this will be good for the village. I think we can make it work,” Wilson said.

Hiner said she was asking to see if anyone from council can be part of those meetings.

Councilwoman Linda Donnalley volunteered to do it and Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner said the log-in information will be sent to all council members so if they want to attend the electronic meetings for ATP, they can.

After a lot of discussion regarding tree removal requests and the Shade Tree Commission being over budget if all the requests were approved, council agreed to reduce the requests and have Barnes Tree Service remove two trees on North Jefferson and one on Washington at Vine, along with a stump on Jefferson for $5,900. There was another bidder, but for a higher cost.

Regarding ticket boxes on poles in the downtown, the decision was to just leave them in place and remove the signs. Abraham said the boxes are still in use, with some people still putting their payments in those boxes for violations.

In another matter, council agreed to allow the police department keep an older cruiser instead of selling it, dedicating it as the School Resource Officer vehicle. The officer said he had an idea to get the students involved in maybe designing a logo for the car. Abraham said it needs tires and any repairs will come out of his budget for the police department.

Council also agreed to hire a professional to clean up the outside of a property at 228 Pritchard Avenue and have the cost placed against the property taxes for the property. Abraham said numerous letters have been sent trying to get the property cleaned up.

Wilson suggested looking at e-bicycle and e-scooter safety, asking if the School Resource Officer could do a program on the topic.

Councilman Joe Morenz asked about some potholes where there had been some work done on Beaver near Pendleton and at Washington and Beaver, asking the street department to check them out.

Councilwoman Susan Temple made a suggestion to cut their meetings to just one a month for June, July and August or maybe July, August and September, saying they could have special meetings if necessary. The vote was 3 to 3, with Morenz, Hiner and Councilman Zachary Smith all voting no and Temple, Donnalley and Councilman Jerry Cox voting yes. There was some concern expressed over the amount of work going on right now for council. Due to the tie, the mayor had to vote.

“I’m agreeing with Melissa for once. No,” Wilson voted.

With the majority voting against the idea of one meeting a month for three months, council will continue with two meetings per month, with the next meeting at 6:30 a.m. June 23.