By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer 

COLUMBIANA – The owner of the former Elastic Corporation of America facility off Alabama 70 presented his plans to the City Council on Feb. 5 to turn the facility into a family-oriented entertainment venue.

Kevin Ricke said he and his wife, Victoria, are aiming to open the venue they are calling “The Phobia Factory” before Halloween this year, most likely in late September.

“Our whole concept is based on phobias – fear of fire, water, spiders, clowns,” Kevin Ricke said, noting the idea was to avoid “blood and guts” displays. “We don’t need that. It will all be based on natural fears. It’s very safe, and not something that’s going to hurt you.”

Kevin said plans for the Phobia Factory include a “Vertigo Vortex” tunnel series, a water maze with controlled water walls and a “Swamp Ride.”

“We will have a Christian-based message in it at the end,” he said.

The Rickes and some of their children’s friends constructed similar attractions at their home last year as a test run of sorts, Kevin said.

“It was well-received,” he said. “We were surprised how many people were attracted to their phobia.”

The Rickes are working with the city to ensure what they construct inside the facility meets all fire and safety guidelines.

“We want an event where they can come and have a good time,” Kevin said.

Mayor Stancil Handley voiced his support of the plans, and said, “It fits what we’re trying to do in Columbiana – family entertainment.”

The Rickes originally shared their goal of opening a “Fright Factory” venue in 2015 after they bought the nearly 400,000-square-foot facility, but their plans were delayed.

Kevin said a public preview of the venue is tentatively scheduled for the last Saturday in June – the same day as Columbiana’s Liberty Day.

In other business, the council:

• Approved check registers for Jan. 20 accounts payables batches.
• Approved for Marsha Burns to receive an increase for additional duties, including cleaning the Nivens House, effective on the next pay cycle.
• Approved of one-step increase due to completion of probationary period for Adam Watson, effective on the next pay cycle.
• Authorized the purchase of a new vehicle and equipment for the police department as noted on the FY 2019 capital budget, with the cost not to exceed $32,000.
• Reappointing Amy Dixon to the Planning and Zoning Commission with a term expiration date of Oct. 1, 2024.
• Reappointing Kevin McKee to the Planning and Zoning Commission with a term expiration date of Oct. 2, 2022.
• Approved a resolution to add the Assistant Street and Sanitation Superintendent job description to the city’s classification plan.
• Approved for Director of Environmental Services Dale Lucas to attend the ARWA Annual Technical Training Conference in Mobile on March 18-20 and use the city credit card for the conference, food and lodging expenses not to exceed $1,300.
• Approved a resolution authorizing accounting functions for the Library Board bank account to be transferred back to the Library Board.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a contract with Tyler Technologies for Incode Software.