Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Mayor David Mitchell confirmed that two new businesses are set to come to the city during a regularly scheduled Columbiana City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

During the meeting, Mitchell shared that a 22,000 square foot agricultural retailer is set to open in the city which will be accessible off of Highway 70. The business hopes to break ground later this summer. The agricultural business will bring approximately 15 full-time jobs to the city with an unnamed number of additional part-time positions.

Another untitled business is set be opened at the location of the old Grede foundry building in Columbiana on Industrial Parkway which will be torn down soon. Mitchell said the company’s goal is to complete the project in 18 months and that he’s not allowed to share business’s name. Mitchell did confirm that once the business is operational, the company claims it will bring 100 jobs to the city.

In other business, the Columbiana City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a lighting services agreement with Alabama Power Company for street lights at Springs Crossing which will add a monthly service charge to the city’s bill.

The City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a contract with Rivertree Systems, Inc. for the discovery and recovery of taxes and businesses licenses for the city of Columbiana. The contract is for a period of three years.

Additionally, the council approved a resolution authorizing the adoption of code regulations for the Shelby County Commission building.

In other news, the city’s various department heads gave individual reports during the council meeting. Chief of Police Jeff Bowers shared the police department is asking that no one park on Mildred Street as it has become a significant issue for school buses.

Bowers also shared that the county’s police chiefs are working on collaborating together spread awareness of telephone call scams.

“We just want to let the public know that if you receive a phone call from somebody saying that we have a warrant for you to come pay your warrant—that is not how the process works at all,” Bowers said.

The next regularly scheduled Columbiana City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at Columbiana City Hall. Residents may also watch a livestream of the meeting at Facebook.com/cityofcolumbiana.