COLUMBIANA CO. Projects seek funds

If the projects are approved, patrons of a hike-bike path will have more parking.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Four Columbiana County-based projects, include three parking lots costing a total of just more than $330,000, are among 14 projects from the region seeking state funding.
A decision is expected near March 13 by the regional group charged with giving preliminary approval to the applications, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said during Wednesday's commissioner meeting.
The projects involve three separate proposals to construct parking lots that would serve the county park district's Greenway Trail, a 12-mile-long hike-bike pathway that stretches from Lisbon to Leetonia.
One of the parking lots would cost $200,000 and would entail clearing land between South Jefferson and South Vine streets in Lisbon on which to construct the lot.
The other parking lot would cost about $19,000 to build. It would be adjacent to a smaller lot near the trail-head off state Route 164.
A third parking lot is proposed near the Teegarden Centennial Covered Bridge, which is along Eagleton Road in Salem Township. Parking is needed to accommodate people wanting to visit the bridge and to access the Greenway Trail's midpoint. Cost of the project, which would include constructing a short stone wall around the lot, is estimated at $110,763.
Group wants easements
The Beaver Creek Land Foundation, a nonprofit group interested in preserving scenic portions of Little Beaver Creek, wants to buy about easements on 90 acres worth of land along the waterway. Estimated cost of the easements is $106,132. The easements would prevent certain types of development of the property.
Hoppel noted that applicants for the money are seeking grants for 75 percent of their project's cost, which is the maximum allowable.
Remaining funds must come from other sources, Hoppel said.
The grants are being sought through the Natural Resources Advisory Council, which is overseen by the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Final decisions on grants will come from state officials in May or June, Hoppel said.
Columbiana County is in the council's District 14, which also includes Jefferson, Carroll, Harrison, Tuscarawas, Guernsey, Cochocton and Holmes counties.