The cost of housing prisoners at the Shelby County Jail for the city of Columbiana is going up.

At its Tuesday, Oct. 4 meeting, the Columbiana City Council unanimously approved a contract for Shelby County Jail Services, which Councilmember Tom Seale said would increase the cost to the city from $2 per day to $30.63 per day.

He said the cost would be paid from city court fees.

Over the opposition of Councilmember Danny Kelley, the council also approved a payment of some $55,482 to R.E. Grills for street improvements under way at Water Works Street, Summer Classics Way and West College Street.

The item was moved from the consent agenda to the regular agenda and approved on a vote of 5-1 with Kelley casting the lone &8220;no&8221; vote.

Kelley said he was opposed to the project.

&8220;I am not going to vote for something I voted against to start with.&8221;

He also said, &8220;I think there is a lot of extra money being spent that should be looked at more closely.&8221;

In another matter, the council unanimously approved a recommendation from Library Director Darryl Heritage to re-classify Teresa Morton from Pay Grade II, Step 3 to Pay Grade 5, Step 2, effective immediately.

Approved without a vote on the consent agenda were the minutes of the Sept. 20 regular meeting and a special meeting from Sept. 26, as well as approval of payment of accounts as listed Sept. 30.

A special called meeting was held on Monday, Sept. 26 to approve a memorandum of agreement with the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging.

Present were Mayor Allan Lowe and councilmembers Frieda Abrams, Tim Billingsley, and Tom Seale.

Councilmember Kelley and Councilmember Ouida Mayfield were not present.

The council unanimously approved the agreement authorizing the mayor to sign the contract.

The senior center manager will report to Director of Public Works Hilry King