HOWLAND — With the Trumbull County MetroParks anticipating to receive $65,000 this year from the county commissioners, the MetroParks at a special meeting Thursday approved sending a revised budget to the county auditor which will show how the parks can stay open through June 30.
Trumbull MetroParks Executive Director Zachary Svette has also offered to have his hours reduced from 40 to 32 hours per week effective March 17 at his pay of $21.65 per hour.
Last week the MetroParks board offered to reduce their original request of $136,000 to the county commissioners by 15% to $115,600.
The board said other county departments were also asked to reduce their requests due to budget restraints and the park board wanted in good faith to also help.
Park board member Kurt Sauer said he was informed the commissioners met Feb. 28 and indicated the parks would receive $65,000 this year.
Sauer said he and other park board members were not aware of the workshop on the budget held Feb. 28 or they would have attended.
Svette said the $65,000 has yet to be officially approved by the commissioners.
He said he will work Monday to Thursday at the office in Howland noting bills need to be processed by Wednesday.
Sauer said he or another MetroParks board member would get the mail on Friday.
He said he also does not expect the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office to provide inmates to do lawn cutting or cleanups in the parks this year due to budget cuts.
Sauer said he and other MetroParks members can also help with lawn cutting when needed to do minimum needed maintenance.
“We will run the parks as long as we have the money to do that. We will be forced to close if funds run out. We will do the best we can and save where we can,” he said.
The budget being submitted to the county auditor is around $65,288.
Svettes said there will be no porta-johns and trash collection at most park locations. Also, printing at the office printer will be switched to all black and white.
Two temporary maintenance workers would work 20 hours per week and be paid $12,000 for work from April through June for the bike trail and at Clarence Darrow Park.
Svette said he can cut the lawn at Foster Park in 20 minutes, the Sunside Trailhead in 30 minutes and at Oakfield Trailhead in 15 to 20 minutes.
Sauer said money received from the county commissioners will not be used for anything related to the Leavittsburg Dam or its planned removal.
The park board members thanked Svette for agreeing to cut back on his hours.
“We appreciate your willingness to do this on behalf of the MetroParks. We hope it will be temporary,” Sauer said.
Board member John Brown said that the board appreciates Svette stepping up to cut back hours under the circumstances the parks are going through.
Board members said that what Svette agreed to do was a “magnanimous gesture” on his part.
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