Leetonia board seeks bond issue for new library

LEETONIA -- The Leetonia Board of Education has started the process to put a bond issue for a new library on the May ballot.
The board voted Wednesday to ask the Columbiana County Auditor's office to determine the millage needed to raise $1.45 million over 25 years.
The school board took the action because the library, under state law, is technically a school district library. The library's boundaries are those of the school district. The district has about 8,000 residents.
The library plans to build a 14,000-square-foot building at the site of the former high school. It would replace the cramped library at 24 Walnut St.
Cheri Taylor, assistant librarian, said the library also is looking for other sources of revenue for the project.
The library has held a series of meetings to get public comments about the new facility. Final design plans haven't been announced.
The board plans to meet again Feb. 8 to vote on placing the issue on the ballot.