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Columbiana departments report rehab progress, library and senior programs; council discusses noise and event planning
Summary
Environmental staff reported phase 1 completion of a wastewater plant rehab; the fire chief noted 13–15 uses of a new truck; the library and senior center outlined circulation and program numbers; the mayor previewed upcoming noise-ordinance and golf-cart discussions and appealed for playground fundraising.
Department heads and board representatives used the May 5 City Council meeting to update the council and public on operations and upcoming events.
Dale (speaker 5), environmental department head, said phase 1 of the wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation at the new Highway 70 facility is complete, lab analyses are pending and remaining work should finish by year-end. He said the department received grant funding (described generically in the transcript as 'free money') and added that staff will show residents a slide presentation when the project is finished. Dale also introduced Tamela Griffin as a new office assistant.
Fire Chief (speaker 4) reported the new fire truck has been used on an estimated 13–15 calls since it entered service — including mutual-aid responses — and said inspections and maintenance are proceeding normally. He suggested the city evaluate a second west-side fire station during budget planning.
Jennifer (speaker 2) shared library statistics: in March the library provided $48,757.60 in circulation services (book/item circulation only, not program space or meeting-room services) and recorded about 1,414 visitors in the sampled week. The library’s summer reading sign-up opens May 26 and the kickoff is June 2 at 2 p.m.
Ally (speaker 10) said the senior center served 840 meals in April and reviewed scheduled outings and events, including a senior breakfast and a Mother's Day brunch.
During public comment, Renee Miller asked whether the city's noise ordinance was being enforced after a high-school student reported multiple stops without tickets; city staff affirmed that citations have been issued under the current noise ordinance. The mayor said the council plans further discussion about a formal noise ordinance and a golf-cart ordinance at the May 19 meeting.
The mayor also updated the public on community events: Musical Main will run starting June 5 (with no music on July 3), Liberty Day vendor sign-ups are open with a new layout to preserve viewing space and vendor hours will extend through fireworks, and Catabilly raised roughly $11,000 for band boosters. The mayor said about $13,000–$15,000 remains to complete the Main Street playground project and that she donated her May salary to the campaign.
The council encouraged residents to take part in city cleanup day June 20 and shared information about vendor applications, T-shirt sales for Liberty Day, and other local engagement opportunities.
