LEETONIA Parks levy mulled; input sought

One council member said $16,000 of the $18,000 parks budget is used for mowing.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Village officials are seeking community input and volunteers.
Councilman Dan Valentine, chairman of the parks committee, said council and the park board are considering placing a parks levy on the November ballot.
He said village officials would like input from voters about whether such a levy would be supported.
He said village officials are also seeking volunteers for the artisans festival to be Sept. 15 at Wick Park.
Valentine said the artisans festival committee is disbanding because many of the same people have been on that committee for most or all of the 19 years. He said the parks board will oversee the festival, but is in need of volunteers.
Festival: A variety of artisans pay a fee to demonstrate their crafts and sell the products produced. Valentine said if the festival were canceled, it would be difficult to restart it because committee members would have to persuade the artisans to return the following year.
The artisans festival is the largest fund-raiser for park improvements.
Valentine said the parks budget from the general fund is $18,000 annually; $16,000 of that is used for mowing.
Parks include Cherry Valley Coke Ovens, Wick Park and the baseball fields on the south side. The village also owns property on the southwest side of the village to be developed into a sports complex.
Valentine said a 1-mill levy would generate $15,000 annually and allow the village to have money for the sports complex improvements and maintenance at the other parks.
He said the park board would like to buy playground equipment and there are pavilions and restrooms at the Wick Park and Cherry Valley Coke Ovens that need regular maintenance. Trimming or cutting down trees as needed is another possible expense.
Valentine said anyone interested in helping with the artisans festival can call his wife, Jennifer, at (330) 427-0808.