The Columbus City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of the old Brumley Sporting Goods building on Main Street.
City Attorney Jeff Turnage said the city will purchase the building from owner Jerry Lavender for $245,000. The city will pay $236,500 of that and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau will pay $8,500.
The purchase comes on the heels of the city’s acquisition of the Gilmer Inn, which is adjacent to the Main Street building. The council approved the purchase of the inn’s property for $425,000 in October and closed on it Tuesday morning.
Mayor Robert Smith, after Tuesday night’s council meeting, said the city plans to demolish both buildings. He said the Gilmer Inn sits very close to the Brumley building, and demolishing one without damaging the other might have been difficult.
The city has no current plans for what will happen with the site after the buildings are removed, but Smith said city leadership hopes a developer will build on the site.
Shelton gets $10K pay raise
The council also voted during executive session to give Columbus Police Department Interim Chief Fred Shelton a pay raise.
The council raised Shelton’s annual salary from $53,560 to $63,560, according to Turnage.
The council appointed Shelton interim chief in early November. The city is conducting a search to replace former Police Chief Tony Carleton, who resigned from his position on Nov. 12, less than a month after the police-involved shooting death of Ricky Ball. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating Ball’s death.
Shelton has worked his entire 32-year law enforcement career with CPD. He previously told The Dispatch he intends to apply for the police chief opening.
After the meeting, Shelton said he was thankful for the pay raise.
“I’m absolutely thankful,” Shelton said. “I’ve been doing some extra work with the interim position, so it’s nice to be compensated for that. I appreciate it.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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