'Having (pickleball) courts here might benefit our local economy'

LOUDONIVLLE - Village Council members were asked to consider being involved in a project to build pickleball courts in the swimming pool/park complex during Monday’s meeting Aug. 1.

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A group of five people, Sam and Vicky Stephenson, Tammy Reynolds, Darla Stitzlein and Doreen Edmondson, attended the meeting and proposed that pickleball courts be built at the pool complex. Sam Stephenson suggested they be placed just west of the basketball court in the complex.

Courts themselves measure 22-by-44 feet, but Vicky Stephenson said a 34-by-68-foot space was required for each court.

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Mrs. Stephenson opened the presentation, noting that pickleball, created in 1965, is the fastest growing sport in the U.S.

“It plays like a cross between badminton, table tennis and tennis, and is played by people of all ages, players ranging from 8 to 80,” she said. “We first played in Florida, and learned new courts had opened in Ashland so started playing there. When we go up to play, we also go shopping and eat out.

"We have heard campers in our area drive to Ashland to play pickleball," she added. "Having courts here might benefit our local economy. There are pickleball courts in Ashland, Wooster, Millersburg, Mount Vernon and Orrville, but none in Loudonville.”

Reynolds asked if the village could commit to designate the pool ground as a site for courts so fundraising, including grant application, could be started.

Law Director Thom Gilman answered “the courts could be built on village property as a village project, and donations made to the village, earmarked for the project. We set up funds for projects all of the time.”

Stitzlein said promoters of the project could do work beautifying the complex while writing grants and seeking donations.

Mayor Jason VanSickle said they could start by marking out the area proposed for the courts. Councilman Bill Huffman added that promoters should map out their plans with other supporters to get the project underway. Councilman Matt Young noted “we are here to help Loudonville.”

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Dave Hall, Holmes County commissioner and a former state representative, was at the meeting and said this was a good time to promote such a project.

“The pool is located in the Holmes County part of Loudonville, and therefore the project could be eligible for new Appalachian funding the county is eligible to use,” Hall said.

Hall also noted “at one time I was the Holmes County recreation coordinator, and I remember the village receiving funding to build the original swimming pool (1983) with a Department of Natural Resources grant. That’s another potential grant source.”

Possible cost for the project was not mentioned. As a point of reference, Ashland’s new six-court complex was built at Cahn Grove Park on the city’s northeast side through a public-private partnership for $240,000.

Loudonville swimming pool may have to close earlier than projected

In other business, Loudonville Swimming Pool Manager Jessica Hillen advised the council that because of staff departures (lifeguards going back to college, or starting football and volleyball practice}, she may be forced to close the pool earlier than the projected Aug. 23 closing date.

She also asked that Lifeguard Trevor Portz be promoted to assistant pool manager since the current assistant manager, Sarah Carroll, is leaving.

After Gilman clarified that council does not take action on pool personnel decisions, and that the matter was the pool manager and the mayor’s responsibility. VanSickle said he would monitor pool activity, and attempt to keep the pool open until the planned closing date.

The council, on a motion by member Huffman, asked Gilman to prepare an ordinance authorizing the narrowing of Humm Avenue adjacent to Cherry Alley as requested by property owners Bryan and Wendy Zody.

“Start the process, and if problems arise, we will address them as they come up,” Huffman said.

VanSickle and Gilman addressed an ongoing issue with maintenance department personnel. The maintenance department was about to hire a candidate for a position that requires a Commercial Driver’s License, but the person did not have a CDL. The village could hire him, and pay to have him obtain the CDL.

“However,” Gilman said, “in past cases we have done that and as soon as the worker received the CDL, they left for a higher-paying job. We are coming up with an arrangement that if the worker does not remain employed with the village for a specified time, he will have to reimburse the village for training costs.”

Council approved one ordinance, authorizing an increase in emergency squad run rates; and one resolution, creating a fund for the Ohio Public Works Commission-funded North Adams/East Haskell Street infrastructure improvement project.

It also approved Hochstetler Milling erecting a Central Park Banner publicizing its Log Cabin Days.

Kenneth Utterback resigns from village's record commission, John Lance appointed to serve in his place

Mayor VanSickle read a certificate of commendation for Kenneth Utterback for his 13 years of service on the village’s record commission. Utterback has resigned from that position. Van Sickle announced that he had appointed John Lance to serve in Utterback’s place.

Hall told council members he would periodically attend Loudonville Council meetings to keep in touch with the western end of the county.

He reported the area was set back when bids for a new bridge on Wally Road at Pleasant Valley Campground came in too high and were rejected. “We’ll get it built someday,” he said.

He said Holmes County is committed to build a recreation path along Wally Road and hoped it could be linked with the Loudonville Bike Path through the Ashland County portion of Wally Road.

Next council meeting will be Monday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, upstairs in the village office building, 156 N. Water St.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Loudonville VIllage Council asked to support pickleball project