Columbiana council approves municipal attorney contract, engineering agreement; tables police lateral‑hire ordinance

The Columbiana City Council on Jan. 21 approved several items of new business, including an agreement with municipal attorney Mark Hudson and a design‑engineering contract for the Firestone Park project, while tabling an ordinance about lateral police hires because required exhibit material was not attached.

Council voted to approve an agreement with municipal attorney Mark Hudson. The motion passed on roll call with affirmative votes recorded during the meeting.

The council also approved Ordinance No. 25‑O‑03274, authorizing the city manager to contract with Herbert, Roland and Grubick, Inc. (HRG Consulting Engineers) for design engineering services for the Firestone Park project (EID 121990). That ordinance passed on first reading after a roll‑call vote.

Council approved two wage ordinances on first reading establishing pay rates: an amendment to the city's general wage schedule (Ordinance No. 25‑O‑03275) and an amendment establishing rates for part‑time employees at the Firestone pool (Ordinance No. 25‑O‑03276). Those measures were read by title and advanced on first reading by council vote.

A proposed ordinance to permit lateral police hires (listed as Ordinance No. 24‑O‑03273 in the agenda but expected to be numbered with the 2025 series) was tabled. Council members and staff noted the ordinance's exhibit A was not attached to the packet and that the ordinance number on the document appeared to be incorrect; council voted to table the item until the document and exhibit can be corrected and provided.

The council approved a request from the Fairfield Ruritans Club to hold its annual antique car show on Sunday, July 13, 2025, from noon to 4 p.m. on South Main Street, conditional on receipt of a completed application and department approvals. Councilmember comments noted that the event is a long‑standing community tradition and staff said the city typically requires a completed application before final approval.

Earlier on the agenda the mayor noted receipt of a letter from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control regarding an application for a new C2 liquor permit for Family Dollar (Family Dollar Stores of Ohio LLC, store #27129, 1112 Village Plaza, Columbiana). Council considered a motion to request a public hearing on that application. During roll call on the motion several councilmembers recorded “no,” and the motion did not pass; council therefore did not request a local public hearing on the liquor‑control notice at the Jan. 21 meeting.

Staff and council also discussed next steps created by the Jan. 21 actions: staff will return corrected ordinance materials and the missing exhibit for the lateral‑hire ordinance at a future meeting; the city manager and legal counsel will finalize the municipal attorney agreement as approved; and the car‑show approval remains conditional until the city receives the completed application and departmental signoffs.