Columbiana council waits for public to weigh in on two businesses’ requests for liquor licenses

By MATTHEW SCHOMER
COLUMBIANA — The city is treading carefully before letting two local businesses seek liquor licenses.

City Council on Tuesday voted to request hearings for Shellabella’s on Main and the upcoming Rite Aid on state Route 14, but only if the city finds legitimate objection by another entity.

Both businesses are seeking liquor licenses — Shellabella’s to serve beer and wine and Rite Aid to offer beer and wine for carryout — but before they can receive the licenses they must first get approval from the city and then from the voters in an open election.

Municipal Attorney Dan Blasdell said the city can only hold a hearing, which could potentially prevent either business from even going to the voting public if there is a legitimate concern, which is generally caused by a business’ past actions. However, Shellabella’s, a restaurant on South Main Street, has never before served liquor, and the Rite Aid has not yet opened, meaning neither could have past problems involving liquor.

Council members were concerned, however, by the restaurant’s location near Heartland Christian School, thinking there might be some law against having a business that serves liquor within a certain distance of a school.

Blasdell was also uncertain whether such a law existed and said he will research it.

One obviously irritated man in the audience accused council of chasing businesses out of town. Noting the loss of the Main Street Diner — which stood on the lot where Rite Aid is being constructed — in the past year, he said Shellabella’s is a restaurant, not a bar, and the owner is trying to offer people a place to eat and drink.

“None of us are against business,” Council member James King tried to explain, saying that the city was trying to protect itself against possible legal action.

“That’s not what it looks like from here,” the man responded before walking out of the meeting.

In another matter, council discussed city residents’ feelings regarding the recently failed park levy.

City Manager Keith Chamberlin said he had mixed feelings, able to see the need for improvements at the park but sympathizing with voters who do not want an increase in taxes.

Council President Lowell Schloneger said the biggest complaint he has heard is that the most expensive project that would have been covered under the failed levy, replacement of visitors’ stands at the football field, should be funded by the school district. While the football field is not on school property, he noted the football program is a responsibility of the school and many people feel the school should be responsible for maintaining the facilities.

Another item that would have been handled under the levy, refurbishing of the water slide at the public swimming pool, was instead funded using Park Festival Fund money, which can only be used on capital improvement projects on park property. However, Chamberlin said the city cannot always rely on pulling money from special funds for projects.

“When something else happens there in the next few years, we’re going to be dipping into capital improvement, period,” he remarked.

City resident Ron LaLonde recommended the Park and Cemetery Board call a special meeting before the next council meeting to address the issue.

Chamberlin said work on the water slide is moving forward but he was unsure whether it would be ready for the opening day of the pool.

Also at the meeting:

— Council passed the second and final reading of an amended leash law for the city, which cleans up some legal language. Council also amended the ordinance to increase the minimum required liability insurance for owners of vicious dogs to $100,000, up from $50,000.

— Council passed an emergency ordinance to allow Chamberlin to advertise for bids for construction materials and labor for the addition of sidewalks along state routes 14 and 46 inside the city and part of North Main Street. Council also passed a first reading authorizing Chamberlin to contract with Fisher Engineering Associates for construction project engineering on the sidewalks.

— Council approved an emergency ordinance allowing Chamberlin to apply for financial assistance with Rural Development and the United States Department of Agriculture for the purchase of an ambulance. Chamberlin said the program offers a 10-year loan at 4.65-percent interest.

— Schloneger sent out a reminder that there is a city ordinance restricting residential garbage pick-up before 6 a.m., noting that at least one garbage-collection company has been violating that ordinance.

mschomer@mojonews.com