Columbiana submits intent to buy former car dealership
COLUMBIANA — After around a decade, Columbiana council voted to look into moving their municipal headquarters.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council unanimously decided to submit a letter of intent to the Cochran Auto Group, exploring the city’s interest in exploring the current location of Columbiana Chevrolet Cadillac at 21 E. Railroad St, during the open meeting.
The vote was the last measure the body took for adjourning their meeting at 8:01 p.m.
City manager Lance Willard explained Wednesday morning that the letter just is another step forward for the city in exploring the possibility. The city had been discussing moving to a building with more growing room for the past decade.
The 75-year-old, 11,688 square foot building and its .41 acre lot had been listed online on the Zillow real estate sales previously for just under a half million dollars. The listing for 21 E. Railroad St. is currently inactive on the site.
“We are looking to do our due diligence in regards to investigating the property’s feasibility,” Willard explaining, saying that he believes there are also multiple adjacent parcels at the location that neighbors the railroad tracks.
All departments currently housed in the municipal building at 28 West Friend St. in downtown would potentially be relocated there, he added.
Bridget Wolsonovich, director of the Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce, also addressed council to update them on the city’s planned Christmas parade and light-up night on Saturday, Nov. 22. The two surviving members of the city’s initial charter committee will light the tree around 6 p.m. that evening after the parade concludes.
In other action, council hired another part-time police officer, Taton Ellis, and passed legislation for a master services agreement with GBS Computer Services for I.T. network-related and computer services.
Council next is set to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 in council chambers at the municipal building.