Council moves forward with pool hall abatement process

Published 3:20 pm Thursday, November 21, 2019

By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The Columbiana City Council on Nov. 19 discussed abatement plans for the dilapidated property on South Main Street known as the old pool hall.

Council members voiced their consent to move forward this month with an $89,000 bid covering the abatement of the building, including the removal of mold, asbestos and lead paint.

Mayor Stancil Handley said the bid is lower than the $100,000 estimate the city had anticipated regarding the cost to abate the property, which Columbiana’s Public Safety Committee declared a public nuisance last year.

In June, the City Council held a public hearing about the property before approving its emergency remediation. The city’s next steps then were to engage a structural engineer, mold and mildew specialist and asbestos specialist to assist the city with demolition planning.

In other business, Judson Etheredge was sworn in as the Columbiana Police Department’s newest officer, and the council approved two proclamations.

Mayor Stancil Handley swears in new Columbiana Police Department officer Judson Etheredge on Nov. 19. (Reporter Photo/Emily Sparacino)

One proclamation designates November as Hospice and Palliative Care Month in Columbiana. The other proclamation designates January 2020 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Three students from Public Service Academy instructor Gary Griffith’s class at the Career Technical Educational Center presented Columbiana Police Sgt. Sasha Knighten with a certificate to thank her for conducting interviews with the students as part of their curriculum.

“She has been a big help to our program since day 1,” Griffith said of Knighten. “My students wanted to do this.”

The council also:

  • Heard an announcement from Handley that Councilman Leslie Whiting will serve as grand marshal of the 2019 Columbiana Christmas Parade on Dec. 5.
  • Approved a resolution authorizing a one-time pay increase for all city employees for the month of December.
  • Approved a request from Mike McCain to relocate his fireworks stand to 404 West College St.

•Tabled a decision regarding the purchase of new desktop and laptop computers for the Columbiana Public Library until updated price quotes are available for consideration.