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COLUMBIANA -- Two new restaurants proposed for town were the topic of conversation at this week's city council meeting.
Councilman Richard McBane expressed concern about brewery licenses sought by Ryan Sheridan for Wheelies Wing House at 12 S. Main St. and for a second planned restaurant, Rails, at 103 S. Main St. Both projects received site plan approval by the planning commission.
In both instances, Sheridan can apply directly to the Ohio Department of Liquor Control for a license to brew and sell beer on site instead of having to seek voter approval. "I'm kind of concerned because its almost like an end run" around voters, McBane said, and he believes the city should play a part in the decision-making process when it comes to alcohol.
Sheridan withdrew plans to seek a liquor license also for Rails but still intends to pursue the brewery license. City Law Director Mark Hutson said before that Sheridan would need voter approval if he wanted to serve liquor there.
In other action at the meeting, council granted Linda Linebaugh permission to hold Josie's 5K race on Sept. 1 in honor of Michael Covert, a 2001 Columbiana graduate who died in 2013 of epidermolysis bullosa, a rare connective tissue disorder, with the proceeds going to DEBRA, a nonprofit organization that helps those suffering from the disease.
"This is cutting it close," police officer Kevin Kloss, the department's event coordinator, said of the timing of the request. "We don't have any conflicts that day. It's just short notice."
The race will follow the same route as the Night Before Christmas 5K race but in reverse, Linebaugh said.
Council also granted Marti Noles permission to hold a block party again on North Elm Street from 5-8:30 p.m. Sept. 29.
In other business:
--City Manager Lance Willard reported they need to look for another company to pick up residential brush and leaves after JDS Landscaping told him they will not longer be offering the service. He expects they will be OK this fall but will have to begin finding other alternatives for 2019.
ACE Hardware and the tri-county Solid Waste District will again be donating the leaf bags for the leaf pick up.
-- Police Chief Tim Gladis said they have met the $60,000 donation goal set when the department acquired Csuti, its first-ever canine officer. He said local businessman Rollin Gosney came to him recently and asked how much was needed to meet the goal and then donated the amount.
Csuti has been used on nine narcotic investigations, five traffic stops and two sweeps of the high school so far.
--Council named the following people as auxiliary police officers: Justin Neff, 18, of Austintown, Alexander Plant, 18, of Canfield, and Nickolas Leonardo, 20, of Youngstown. Gladis said they frequently hire new officers from the auxiliary ranks because it gives him a chance to see them in action first.
"This is the way we like to do it … I have gotten some great hires who started out as auxiliary officers," he said.
--Councilman Dan Bekar said the area behind Arby's is badly in need of being resurfaced, and Willard said he would make a "courtesy call" to the plaza owner.