The Columbiana City Council in a 5-1 vote Tuesday approved a zoning amendment that will allow a job training center for state prison inmates to locate in the city.

Councilman Danny Kelley, who cast the vote delaying consideration of the amendment at a July 26 meeting, voted against the zoning change.

"It's not a bad thing; it just doesn't need to be in Columbiana," Kelley said. He has previously said residents of the area have made it clear they did not want the center in their midst.

The building is zoned for industrial use, which prohibits residents except for nightwatchmen and their families. The amendment will now allow Community Education Centers to house staff members and inmates on the property.

The center will offer job training and substance abuse counseling to inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses.

Columbiana resident Sherrell Mooney, an opponent of the plan, asked city leaders to consider holding a public referendum on the issue.

"We just want the opportunity to vote on this so the voice of the people could be heard," Mooney said.

Mayor Allan Lowe said after the meeting that a referendum would not have been legally binding.

Bill Palatucci, senior vice president of Community Education Centers, has said the inmates - 350 males, 50 females at a time - will not pose a public safety risk.

Palatucci has said he hopes the center will be operational in November.

Palatucci and Lowe have repeatedly stated that the inmates will not have been convicted of violent or sex-related crimes and will not be allowed out in the community.

The state Department of Corrections last week signed a three-year, $3 million contract with Community Education Centers, Palatucci said.

Mayor Allan Lowe has said that upon sale of the property, the city will receive approximately $87,000 in back taxes owed to the city by Elastic Corporation of America, the former occupant.

The city will also receive between $130,000 and $170,000 in taxes as Community Education Centers renovates the property.

Lowe also said the 100 jobs that will be created by the center will help offset the loss of jobs created by Elasticorp's move to Honduras.

Palatucci said that after the zoning vote, he would discuss with city officials what kind of fencing will surround the center.

Lowe said he believes the center "will not adversely affect public safety."

"This time next year, people will see this is not a negative," Lowe said.

E-mail: jgray@bhamnews.com