COLUMBIANA — City council continued its expansion efforts by accepting a 6.275-acre annexation from Columbiana County Commissioners Tuesday night.

According to Bryce Miner, deputy city administrator, previously the property had been in the southwest portion of Unity Township and is located near the Links At Firestone Farms.

After accepting the annexation, members passed an emergency resolution indicating the city of Columbiana would provide all services that city residents would be entitled to.

The city also approved its contract providing fire protection services to neighboring Fairfield Township.

In the agreement drafted by township trustee Robert W. Hum II, who is an attorney, the $162,800 generated through the fire levy would be divvied among the three departments, which also includes Leetonia and New Waterford.

Columbiana’s cut is $58,000 annually, while New Waterford receives $42,000 and Leetonia $35,000, for a total of $135,000.

Any accumulated surplus fire funds will be split among the three as it routinely does.

“There are some expenses involved with the dry hydrant located at the township’s lake and the fire prevention officer,” Hum explained, adding that the township wishes to see the Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating lowered and all three agencies’ cooperation is needed for that to be accomplished.

Typically ISO ratings are Class 1 for exemplary and 10 when a fire suppression system fails to meet minimum standards.

Taken into consideration are individual departments, water supply, emergency communication, community risk reduction as well as distance to the township from responding stations.

Each individual contract requires the other two departments to respond with at least one pumper and one tanker with more than 9,000 gallons of water for any type of structure fire or smoke investigation within a structure, so the township can obtain an 8B classification.

Class 8B is a public protection classification for communities that provide superior fire protection services and fire alarm facilities but lack the water supply required for a Class 8 or better.

The contracts are for one year each.

In other action, council (sans an absent Dan Dattilio) authorized the city manager to advertise for bids for the purpose of completing the Columbiana – state Route 14 road widening project.

Community members also addressed council seeking approval for upcoming events that included the Saturday, Oct. 3 Witch walk, and two 5Ks on June 9 and Dec. 1 to benefit non-profit causes.