The cost of court is going up, the definition of junk just became a little broader and Crazy Bill’s can sell fireworks from a temporary stand in Columbiana.

In the absence Councilmember Tim Billingsley, the Columbiana Council unanimously approved an ordinance on June 17 that will raise municipal court costs as follows: an increase from $103 to $114 for traffic cases; from $600 to $900 for DUI first offense, from $1000 to $1,500 for DUI second offense and from $2,000 to $2,500 for a third

DUI offense; from $153 to $164 for no driver license;

from $60 to $75 for driving without a license;

from $123 to $147 for non-traffic cases;

from $50 to $100 for issuing a worthless check; from $50 to $100 for littering; from $400 to $500 for possession of marijuana; from $200 to $400 for possession of drug paraphernalia; from $200 to $400 for resisting arrest; and from $75 to $100 for trespassing.

The council also unaniimously amended a city ordinance adding to the definition of junk &uot;and/or motor vehicles without a current license plate.&uot;

Mayor Tom Seale said the addition was made to close a loophole in a city ordinance.

In other business, after hearing from Bill Cairns, the real-life &uot;Bill&uot; behind Crazy Bill’s Fireworks, the council unanimously voted to allow that business to sell fireworks from a temporary stand (trailer) through July 10.

At a previous meeting of council, Crazy Bill’s request to sell fireworks in the city was denied when the council failed to take action.

Seale explained to a company representative at the time

that it was not the sale of fireworks that was a problem but the use of a temporary trailer. He said if the business could find a permanent storefront building to sell fireworks, everything would be in order.

City ordinances now

prohibit temporary trailers.

However, Preston Rayfield of Columbiana came to appeal to the council for reconsideration with the help of the Cairns.

Cairns said he operates 100 fireworks locations in 30 Alabama cities.

According to Rayfield, the company had already purchased a business license and moved a temporary trailer into a rented spot along Highway 70.

Cairns said Crazy Bill’s tried to be a good neighbor. He said the business has located in Columbiana for nine years without a problem. He also said the company did not find out the change in Columbiana zoning ordinance until a late date and after the stand was already inspected by the state fire marshal.

&uot;We just need some help to get through this one season.&uot;

He said the business would look for a permanent building next year.

Seale acknowledged the short window of time in which Crazy Bill’s was notified of the change in the ordinance. Cairns said he has been in the fireworks business since 1982.

He said the business got its name when his lawyer called him &uot;crazy&uot; for going to Louisiana to buy fireworks.

After hearing an appeal from a church group left out of

the food court area for

Liberty Day, the council voted to sell Columbiana Church of the Nazarene a permit to give away water and cokes for donations from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Shelby County High School football stadium only.

Councilmember Ouida Mayfield said other church groups will also be allowed to purchase a permit for the football stadium only in light of the council’s decision

for the Church of the Nazarene.

Seale explained that this year the city sold a limited number of spaces downtown to food vendors. He also said the vendors complained that groups giving away food for donations took away from business.

In other matters the council unanimously:

Approved an increase in the janitorial fee for Wayne Jones from $850 to $950.

Approved Brenda Seale to fill the unexpired term of Sue Phillips the Columbiana Library Board. The term will end Oct. 1, 2006.

Approved a payment to McCullough Rehab Contractos Inc. $6,822 for sewer inspection services.

Approved a payment of $35,869.45 to Gresham, Smith & Partners for work in connection with the downtown revitalization project.

Approved a payment of $26,879.77 with a hold back of $2,986.64 for the ultra violet system at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

Approved the purchase of a full page ad in the Shelby County Fair Association Catalog for promotion of the city.

Approved Library Director to use a credit card for travel on library business with receipts to be returned to the city.

Approved a $2,000 donation request from Columbiana Girls Softball.

Approved transfers from the General Fund to Ball Park Construction in the amount of $503 and to the Library Account in the amount of $1,735.55.

Approved the purchase of a security code key pad for Police Department entrances at a cost of $1,296.49 from Pro Communication.

Approved the employment of Tristen Rush for summer grass cutting at a rate of $8 per hour. Councilmember Rush abstained from the vote.

Announced the next work session for July 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Announced the news letter deadline as July 11