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Legion, Ben provide $7K for new K-9

Morning Journal/Scott Lendak Columbiana Community Foundation representative Deann Davis presents a $5,000 check to Police Chief Tim Gladis, K-9 Officer Brian Granchie, K-9 Csuti and the police department for K-9 program from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation — Giving Back Fund.

COLUMBIANA– As the police department continues to accumulate money, it was presented with two checks for a combined $7,000 from the American Legion Post 290 Ladies Auxiliary Unit and the community foundation at last week’s city council meeting.

K-9 Officer Brian Granchie and K-9 Csuti attended the meeting to accept the check presentations, and Police Chief Tim Gladis explained why they are hoping for another K-9 unit and what Csuti has brought to the department.

“This guy (Csuti) has done an amazing job for the city,” Gladis said. “He’s taken a lot of stuff off the streets that didn’t need to be out there. It solves a whole lot of problems for us, and Brian and Csuti do a great job.”

American Legion Post 290 Ladies Auxiliary Unit members Joyce Allcorn and Deb Gorby presented Gladis with a $2,000 check, which was made through a fundraiser specifically for the K-9 unit. Deann Davis also presented a check on behalf of the community foundation from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation — Giving Back Fund for $5,000.

Since the department needed to apply for the grant through a nonprofit organization, the community foundation acted as a conduit for the grant. Gladis thanked Davis for working quickly in a short amount of time to ensure they applied in time.

“Without the community foundation we wouldn’t have been able to do this,” Gladis said. “We appreciate everything they did for us. Deann got really short notice from me and really did a lot of work. We appreciate Ben and this foundation for the help they’ve given us to help pay for a new dog.”

Granchie will remain working with Csuti and Gladis will assign a new officer to work with the other K-9 unit.

In other news, council approved the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) agreement with RLR Investments Inc. (R&L Carriers) that will retain 360 jobs and create 50 additional full-time jobs and 10 part-time jobs over the next five years with a $5 million increase in annual salary and benefits after five years.

The $20 million project includes $10 million in new construction and $10 million in additional equipment, and school board approved it at its last meeting. There is a proposed real estate tax abatement of 100 percent for 15 years on the increased value of new construction and 100 percent for 12 years on any remodeling of existing structures.

The RITA tax day will be held on March 19 at Pavilion 1, and all RITA communities are welcome to get free help with their income taxes. Council’s next regularly schedule meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 17.

slendak@mojonews.com

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