Mayor Allan Lowe has named Johnny Brown as the new chief of police for Columbiana and has stated that an engineer will look at problems on Magnolia Circle.

Lowe said he named Brown police chief with the full support of the City Council.

&uot;He’s been a police officer in Alabaster. He grew up in and around Columbiana,&uot; Lowe said.

According to Lowe, in the time Brown has served as a police officer in Columbiana he has &uot;exhibited strong loyalty to the city and commitment to his profession.&uot;

He also said Brown has been &uot;very faithful as both a husband father, all of which are characteristics of a good police chief.&uot;

&uot;After I made up my mind that I wanted to appoint Johnny Brown as police chief, I talked to more than a dozen people to get their opinion and have not heard one negative opinion or remark,&uot; Lowe said.

&uot;I feel like Johnny’s education, experience and concern for our city make him uniquely qualified to serve for many years as our police chief. Columbiana is fortunate to have someone of his caliber as our police chief. I’m privileged to know his wife and children and they are a fine family.&uot;

Brown began his career in law enforcement with the Sheriff Department Reserve Program in 1991 and attended the Law Enforcement Academy at the University of Alabama.

After a short while in private investigations, Brown went to work for Alabaster as a police officer before coming to Columbiana.

He quickly rose in the Columbiana Police Department from patrol officer to sergeant and finished his degree in Human Resource Management at Faulkner University.

Brown also holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Jefferson State Community College and said he hopes to attend the FBI National Academy.

&uot;I just think it’s a great honor especially growing up in a city… you take things personally,&uot; Brown said. He is a graduate of Shelby County High School who said his daughter will be raised in Columbiana and his family lives in the city.

Concerning problems at Magnolia Circle, Lowe said, &uot;If the city is responsible, we will take care of it.&uot;

According to Dale Landefeld of 160 Magnolia Circle, a sewer line there has two cracks in it, yards are sinking, sidewalks are cracking and his driveway is coming apart.

The matter was brought to the City Council’s attention under the previous administration.

Landefeld questioned a report on the matter that was obtained. And he said he went to the Columbiana Council on Nov. 2 after talking to Public Works Director Hilry King.

Landefeld said he was upset because Lowe limited his time to speak. And he said though King said someone was out to look at the property, no one saw them.

Lowe said he wasn’t prepared to discuss the matter at the Nov. 2 meeting of council and that King was unable to attend.

He said once Landefeld voiced his concerns, &uot;I limited his time because there was nothing to be gained. It was obvious to him and us that we did not have enough information to make an educated statement on what the problem was.&uot;

Lowe also appointed Allen Ray as a member of the Planning and Zoning Board to a six-year term.

In other matters, the council:

* Approved the payment of bills.

* Approved transfers from the General Fund to Ball Park Construction in the amount of $8,600 and from the General Fund to the Library Account of $3,501.52.

* Approved the salary for the new police chief at Grade 13, Step 5.

* Authorized Acting City Clerk Gina Antolini to contract with a temp service for help in her office