By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The Columbiana City Council appears set to call a special meeting in the next week or so to decide whether it will move forward with plans to renovate a county-owned building into a new senior citizens center.

The city has until August 1 to apply for an Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs grant to help pay for the renovation.

The building is located across the street from Columbiana City Hall, at the corner of Mildred and Milner streets.

The council recessed from its meeting Tuesday night to talk about the project.

Councilman Jim Strickland said he would like to see a senior facility, but expressed concerns about upkeep at the proposed location. Strickland said it would cost the city roughly $30,000 to $35,000 a year for electricity and water.

“We’ve got to plan on that in the budget,” Strickland said. “We just need to go into it with our eyes open.”

Columbiana Mayor Allan Lowe told the council he would in the next 48 hours look at the budget and report back. Lowe said he likely would call a special meeting to discuss his findings.

In other actions, the council

-Appointed Jerry Lamb, Delores Jones and Jim Davis to the Medical Clinic Board of the City of Columbiana.

-Reported the hiring of Lisa Michele Dodson as a part-time court clerk assistant.