Columbiana council hires part‑time officer, clears Beer Fest permit and approves emergency grant application

The Columbiana City Council on Aug. 19 voted to hire Nicholas Bowen as a part‑time police officer, approved a motion to permit a Sept. 20 Beer Fest contingent on required permits and approvals, and passed an emergency resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for Omega Regional Transportation Planning Organization capital allocation funds for a proposed walking and biking trail between Columbiana and Leetonia.

The hiring motion to concur with City Manager Lance Willard and Police Chief Mark Edwards was moved and seconded and carried; Bowen then was sworn into office at the meeting. Jay Brothers, representing the Beer Fest organizers, told council the event is set for Sept. 20 at the Homestead and Firestone venue, will partner again with Project Playground and will run from about 4 to 8 p.m. Council approved the event "pending approval" of required permits and insurance, and members said the police department would provide security coordination.

In other action, council adopted Resolution 25‑R‑671 (emergency), authorizing the city manager to apply to the Omega RTPO capital allocation program. In the manager's presentation earlier in the meeting, Lance Willard described a concept to seek approximately $250,000 to fund planning and engineering for a multi‑jurisdictional trail following an old trolley alignment and FirstEnergy right‑of‑way to tie into the Greenway Trail; Willard said the project would cross Fairfield Township, the city of Columbiana and Leetonia and that letters of support would be sought.

A separate resolution, 25‑R‑672, authorizing the city manager to execute a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) agreement with Milo Land LLC, was presented for its first reading; council moved and approved the first reading and set a second reading for Sept. 2. Willard also told council the CRA item was connected to an application from Red Brick Commons for phase 3, described in committee as a proposed 10‑year, 75% abatement on first reading.

Manager's report items discussed at the meeting included a recent Small Cities presentation to ODOT seeking signal upgrades at key intersections (Willard described an upgrade to aging signal equipment and the potential for pedestrian signals and backup power; he said the project currently is slated for fiscal year 2029), ongoing negotiations with OmniFiber on a pole‑attachment agreement, selection of Howells & Baird with Strollo Architects for the city overhaul/conversion project, and a recommendation to renew the three‑year Efficiency Smart contract the city has used since 2012. Willard also said a Southwest Street paving project tied to the city's 2024 CDBG award is expected to begin later the week of the meeting.

Council and staff also noted operational updates in the manager's packet: the electric department's new facility opening soon, water‑department repairs and generator pads poured for Wells 1 and 2, wastewater testing and return of the Vactor unit, collection of 225 tires during a recent cleanup and 23 full 40‑yard dumpsters at the town cleanup, and that school resource officers were preparing for the first day of school on Aug. 20. The mayor's court report for July and the bill lists for Aug. 5 and Aug. 19 were accepted as submitted.

Mayor/President counsel Skip Liston and other council members announced an upcoming executive session to discuss purchase of property under Ohio law; council recessed for executive session and later returned and adjourned. Council did not take further formal action after the executive session at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the hire of Nicholas Bowen (motion moved and seconded), approved the Beer Fest event motion "pending approval" of required permits and insurance, adopted Resolution 25‑R‑671 (emergency) authorizing application to the Omega RTPO capital allocation program, and passed the first reading of Resolution 25‑R‑672 (CRA agreement with Milo Land LLC) with a second reading set for Sept. 2.

The council meeting packet and manager's report include additional project timelines and documents that council said staff will return with for follow‑up votes or further consideration at future meetings.