HOWLAND — Members of the Trumbull County MetroParks board plan to attend a Trumbull County commissioners meeting Tuesday where they will ask for additional funds to help with keeping the metroparks open for the remaining six months of the year.
The metroparks board has enough funds to keep the parks open through June 30, with board members hoping to secure an additional $65,000 to keep the parks open through the end of the year.
Board President Randy Fabrizio and member Kurt Sauer said they plan to attend the meeting Tuesday. Sauer said earlier this year the park board requested $136,000 and received $65,000 from the commissioners.
“We will ask for $65,000 to help fund the parks for the second half of the year. We could keep the parks open from July 1 to Dec. 31. We want to make the park department whole for the balance of the year,” Sauer said.
Sauer said the parks would be shut down for the winter months.
He said the board can justify the need for the $65,000.
Zachary Svette, executive director of the metroparks, said with less funds, reductions have been made, including him only working four days a week and handling secretarial duties at the office in Howland.
Sauer said Svette voluntarily offered to cut his hours by 20% to help save money. Sauer said the board and Svette have watched spending.
Also Tuesday, the board will submit to the commissioners a preliminary budget for 2026 requesting $145,000 for next year.
ACQUIRE PROPERTY
In other business, the board approved the acquisition of 153.799 acres of the old 714 rail line from the Ohio Rail Development Commission via the Ohio Department of Administrative Services at no cost.
Officials said the property contains the bike trail and the building and structure located at two trailheads in Champion and Bristol pending state legislative approval. Svette said instead of leasing the property, the metroparks will own it.
The board also approved Walter Paving Co. for trail repairs at $7,850 associated with the Appalachian Community grant program and slide repair. Members also approved Estherlee Fence Company for fencing replacement at $24,400. The board also approved paying the appraisal fee for the English property in Braceville at $1,250 to Brian Mocilnikar with the park district to be reimbursed via a Clean Ohio grant.
