Officials prioritize ways to spend extra revenue

Two welcome signs will be built at major entry routes.
By SUSAN BENDER
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIANA -- Extra cash, a beautification project and the purchase of a building highlighted discussion at a Columbiana City Council meeting.
Council learned that the city has received $670,000 in inheritance tax money this year, more than $400,000 above the total received last year.
Councilman Don Leonard suggested using the unanticipated revenue to pay off a recently bought fire engine, or to start a building fund for a new fire station.
"There's a lot of good that can come out of that money," Leonard said.
Council decided to create a priority list and decide later how to use the money.
Welcome signs
In other business at the meeting this week, Terry McCoy of the Columbiana Rotary told council the club would erect two welcome signs for the city. They will be built with cultured stone and feature cast aluminum letters reading: "Welcome to Columbiana - Birthplace of Harvey S. Firestone."
He said the club hopes the signs would help re-establish recognition of the fact that Firestone was born here.
One sign will be built on the east side of town near The Links at Firestone Farms and the other on the West Side, where the location is yet to be determined.
"We want to do something positive for the community," McCoy said.
He said construction of the signs will begin in May 2006 and take about three months to complete.
McCoy said that Strollo Architects of Columbiana donated the design for the signs. Kreidler Construction of North Lima is donating labor for one of the signs, and Masonry Materials Plus of Youngstown is donating materials for both signs.
Even with those donations, the project will still cost $8,000, he said.
The Columbiana Foundation, a local charitable foundation, is expected to donate $5,000 to the project.
The Columbiana Historical Society and the Rotary club have pledged $1,500 donations, McCoy said.
Council also approved buying the two-story, brick building next to city hall. The building will be renovated for office space or razed to provide parking, officials said.