Problems are still plaguing the Cumberland City Council despite their progress in beautification and restoration projects.

Cumberland Mayor Loretta Cornett told the council she had already spoken with two companies and received quotes for an asbestos removal project for a building on Cumberland Avenue the city has tried to get cleaned up for several months.

Cornett said she spoke to Alpha Environmental Contracting, of Berea, which estimated it would cost them close to $7,000 to just remove the asbestos located on the premises. Cornett said she also spoke with David Mills of Mills Construction, who said for $8,000 he would get a contractor to come in and remove all the asbestos and clean up the entire lot.

The council and Cumberland tourism and the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce are working together to tear down and renovate several of the older buildings in the city as part of an effort to beautify the downtown area. A special grant through the county, known as the Brownstone Grant, will help them pay for the asbestos cleanup and these other building projects.

The building on Cumberland Avenue will be torn down once the asbestos is removed to make way for a butterfly garden, said Cornett.

“I’m very anxious to see it torn down and cleaned up. I saw the slides on the butterfly garden, and it was absolutely beautiful,” said Cornett.

Council member Eugene Stagnolia said he was told at a previous meeting that the grant could take up to five months to be received by the county and then dispersed. Council members were also told it could be as fast as one month.

“Maybe we should ask tourism to go ahead and tear the building down on Cumberland Avenue. Then the city could reimburse them once we receive some of these grants from the county,” said council member Carl Hatfield.

Bobbie Gothard, of the Main Street Program, said it was time for the council to apply for several grants. One of the grants will allow the city to begin repairs and improvement to the city sidewalk.

One of the larger grants the city is applying for is a $20,000 Renaissance grant that will be used as a matching 50-50 payment toward the purchase and replacement of several awnings for businesses in the Main Street area. The grant will match 50 percent of the funds, requiring business owners to only pay the other half of the bill. Gothard said she already had an estimate done and the cost would be around $40,000.

Several other grants are to be considered at the next council meeting for repairs of city hall in Cumberland. According to Cornett, the building is in dire need of repairs and updates. The council hopes the grants will also allow city hall to be upgraded.

Gothard also reported Cumberland had been approved for a $10,000 in Coal Heritage Trail funds and work should begin on it very soon.

Cornett announced Cumberland would be lighting its Christmas tree on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. in the same area as last year. Stagnolia said they have also purchased several other Christmas displays.

“The children just love the displays and the tree,” said Cornett.

Cornett said the city would be inviting the Harlan High School band to march and perform in the city’s Christmas parade. She noted that the Harlan County High School band was already scheduled to perform.

The Cumberland Christmas Parade is set for Dec. 4 with line up beginning at 3 p.m. and the parade starting at 4 p.m.