Columbiana city council is taking another step toward buying the Cochran Auto Group property at 21 Railroad St.. Members unanimously directed city manager Lance Willard to sign an agreement to purchase the current location of Columbiana Chevrolet Cadillac and 29 surrounding parcels for $2.3 million. (File photo/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

COLUMBIANA — Will 2025 bring more movement toward a city hall for Columbiana? Officials hope so.

During their last regular meeting of 2024, council members directed city manager Lance Willard to take the next step, signing a purchase agreement for the city’s future.

The decision came a month after the city had submitted a letter of intent to the Cochran Auto Group, who owns 21 Railroad St., as well as their interest in some adjacent parcels.

The 21 Railroad St. location is currently the home of the Columbiana Chevrolet Cadillac dealership.

According to the purchase agreement, the city of Columbiana has offered a purchase price of $2.3 million for the 11,688 building and its 30 parcels of land in the area of Railroad, Elm and South Main streets.

“While we do have a place holder for the price of $2.3 million for the entire package as shown in the exhibit, that could change depending on the circumstances as they develop,” Willard said, adding no further details on how the purchase may be funded.

The bulk of city operations are currently housed at municipal city hall, which is located at the 28 E. Friend St. building.

Columbiana’s population in 1930, when the municipal building was constructed, was 2,485 residents. Still a village in 1979 when city hall had been remodeled, Columbiana began a city a year later with a 5,659 population. Twenty-four years later, estimates predict that number is now closer to 6,817.

Per the agreement, the closing is to be completed by March 31, 2025.

There is an “out” clause in the document in case the city finds not details previously in documentation.

The agreement also details that Cochran will be responsible for the cost and remediation of two underground fuel tanks.

The agreement reads: “Seller shall be responsible for obtaining, and shall, on or before the date that is three years after the closing, at no cost to buyer, obtain and deliver a ‘no further action letter’ from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency relation to the closure of two gasoline underground storage tank systems and remediation of residual contamination currently being undertaken pursuant to the Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank regulations.”

Willard also explained that there is a “lease-back” clause, which allows Cochran Auto Group to lease a portion of the property back for up to 36 months if so desired at a cost of $100,000 every six months.