Reporter Staff Writer

The Columbiana City Council has taken another step toward the renovation of downtown. But the council did not approve a request for a fireworks stand on a vacant lot next to the post office.

At the council’s regular May 20 meeting, the council unanimously voted to seek bids for a proposed Downtown Renovation Project and to advertise the bid request in three state newspapers.

Also in connection with the renovation project, the council approved a payment of $41,141 to Gresham Smith & Partners which developed the plans and designs to be implemented.

The council failed to approve a request for a temporary fireworks stand on the vacant Stivers lot next to the post office. The action failed to pass when it died due for lack of a motion.

In police department matters, the council approved an expense not to exceed $4,500 for a rebuilt warranted engine from Ford for a 1998 police car.

According to Police Chief Michael Lann, the engine blew in the car, which he said was one of the city’s better vehicles.

The council also approved a payment of $832 to Wilson Paint and Body for repair to a police car which struck a deer.

In other matters the council unanimously:

Approved a payment of $38,892 to Titan Electric for ball park lighting to be paid from bond money.

Approved a payment of $12,387.20 to McCullough Rehab Contractors for television examination of city sewers. Public Works Director Hilry King said he is reviewing the results of the television survey of the sewers.

Approved a payment of $3,287.68 to NextriaOne to relocate the phone system from the temporary Police Department trailer to the renovated facility located in the basement of city hall.

Approved a payment of $1,563.27 to Kari-Lane for labor and materials to wire computers for the Police Department.

Approved a payment of $2,590 to Gallet for geotechnical

testing of the ground for the downtown renovation project.

Approved a Parks and Recreation Board recommendation to spend $11,500 on summer cookouts (open to the public) and camps

Approved a pay increase to $16.62 per hours (department head status) for library director Rodney Wooten who recently received his library science degree.

Approved the use of the Columbiana Recreational Building as a polling place for Beat One, Box One and Two.

Approved the employment of George Howell for temporary summer help at a pay of $8 per hour. Councilmember Leslie Whiting Sr. said the council is still seeking to hire two more persons for summer help.

Approved an agreement for to allow the Shelby County Department of Development Services to continue building inspection assistance to the city.

Approved an estimate of $8,105.11 from Sain Associates for an intersections project to be entirely reimbursed by federal and state funds. Mayor Tom Seale said the project is on schedule to begin in the fall.

Approved a request from Columbiana Planning Commission chairman Bill Justice to attend the Sixth Annual Alabama Planning

& Land Use Law Update Seminar offered by the University of North Alabama. The registration fee is $189.

The seminar is offered in cooperation with the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Alabama League of Municipalities and the Alabama Association of Regional Councils.

Approved a transfer from the general fund to ballpark construction for parks and recreation in the amount of $804.02 and from the general fund to the library fund in the amount of $2,717.19.

Approved the payment of bills.

Announced the grand opening of the new Fred’s Store on Friday, May 30.

Councilmembers Ouida Mayfield and Tim Billingsley were absent from the meeting. The council regularly meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at city hall with pre-council at 6 p.m. and the regular council session at 7 p.m.