COLUMBIANA CO. Officials to hold hearing at night

Commissioners decided to keep the hearing in Lisbon to avoid the look of favoritism.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners are making a special accommodation for those wishing to voice their opinion about a proposed annexation of land in Perry Township to the city of Salem.
Commissioners agreed Wednesday to hold a public hearing at night, instead of the typical midmorning time. No date has been set.
The rare 7 p.m. time was set to make the hearing more accessible. The annexation involves dozens of property owners.
Location: Commissioners, however, refused a request by Atty. Barbara Plummer of Salem that the hearing be conducted in city council chambers.
Plummer represents those seeking the annexation.
Commissioner Jim Hoppel noted that commissioners typically conduct annexation hearings in Lisbon, and having this one in Salem might give the appearance that commissioners favor the city in the matter, he said.
To accommodate what is expected to be a large crowd, commissioners will have the hearing in the juvenile justice center auditorium, 260 W. Lincoln Way, Lisbon.
At issue is an annexation petition filed by 112 of 181 property owners in the nearly 184-acre territory.
Most of the property lies between Westview and Eastview avenues and Shady Lane, north of Salem. The city owns 20 acres.
Annexation would make the area eligible for municipal sewer lines. There are many faulty septic systems serving homes in the area, city officials say.