Councilman: Lax communication led to problem

COLUMBIANA -- Poor communication led to the flap between the city and Leetonia schools over the use of the Firestone football stadium, Councilman Don Leonard said today.
Leonard said although the park board had a verbal agreement with the Leetonia Schools to use the Firestone Stadium for four varsity football games at $579 per game, council, with Leonard absent, voted July 25 to charge that fee, plus an additional $1,000 per game.
He said some council members weren't aware of the district's verbal agreement with the park board and the city manager.
Council then voted Tuesday to allow Leetonia to use the Firestone football field for $579 per game, the same rate Columbiana schools pay.
However, Leetonia school officials have reached agreements to play four games at East Palestine and United schools at a substantially lower cost than what council had approved July 25, said Leetonia's Superintendent Tom Inchak. Not all details of the agreements had been worked out, Inchak said.
Leetonia school officials said the district's new football stadium won't be ready until October because of construction delays.
"This situation was poorly handled," Leonard said. "We need to be a good neighbor to Leetonia. We might need them one day."