The salary of mayor and council in Columbiana will go up for the next administration.

Among actions taken at its Jan. 20 meeting, the City Council approved a salary schedule with pay increases for the next mayor and council, effective the first Tuesday of October 2004.

The pay for mayor will double, going from $600 to $1,200 per month and rise for city council from $400 to $600 per month.

Councilmember Tom Seale explained the increase.

&uot;We feel the current administration has raised the bar on what is to be expected,&uot; he said.

&uot;More and more is expected of the mayor and council with government workshops and seminars.&uot;

Seale also said the current administration has brought in close to $1 million in grants to the city.

In other matters, an ordinance amendment to make banners a non-permitted sign under the city’s new sign regulations was tabled. The city will seek bids for the renovation of girls’ softball fields. The city will provide a police officer to the county drug task force.

Councilmember Seale said questions were raised concerning banners such as those used by the high school at the football field when the prohibition of banners came up at the council’s regular Jan. 20 meeting.

He said the amendment to the city’s sign regulations will come up for a vote at a future council meeting.

The council voted to seek bids for repairs/renovations at the Girls Softball Field/Bolton Field.

In another matter, the council approved a contract with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department in which the city would be reimbursed for the base pay for an officer to work with the county’s drug task force.

The city will be responsible for overtime pay, matching state retirement (estimated to be $2,400), the city’s portion of health insurance ($6,050.40) and all other benefits paid by the city, including workers compensation (estimated to be $1,350).

In other matters, the council:

* Voted to renew its agreement with Ala Tax Inc. to collect city sales tax.

* Renewed an agreement with the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce to pay the chamber $250 per year for its services.

* Approved a library (literacy) grant application to CVS Corporation for $1,250 with a city match of $500.

* Approved an annual request of $3,000 from Elvin Hill Elementary.

* Voted to appoint Councilmember Tim Billingsley to represent the city as a non-voting member of the Southeast Shelby Rescue Department.

* Voted to appoint Clarence Harris Sr. to the Park and Recreation Board to a term that will expire Oct. 4, 2008.

* Approved the release of $19,116 from the Park and Recreation Board Account for ball field repairs.

* Approved an application to the Shelby County Community Center Construction Match Initiative Program. Any amount received by the city must be matched on a 50/50 basis.

* Set a public hearing for April 6 at 7 p.m. to assess the past performance of Charter Communications and to determine the future cable needs of Columbiana