GALION — The Galion City Council held their monthly meeting on Tuesday evening. 

Council passed Ordinance No. 2020-57, which states that it is an ordinance adopting the recommendation of the city of Galion planning commission and re-zoning part of outlet 714 from residential office to general commercial. The property this ordinance references the outlet for the Mill Creek development. 

Ordinance No. 2020-62 was passed, and that ordinance will allow the safety-service director to apply for and accept a law enforcement body armor grant that is made available through the Ohio Attorney General for the three new officers who were sworn in at the last meeting. 

Ordinance No. 2020-66 was passed with an emergency clause, and it states that it is an ordinance authorizing the safety-service director to accept certain easements and acquisitions of property relating to ten parcels adjacent to the St. Rt. 598 widening project, to execute any and all documents relating thereto and to pay the owners of said parcels the negotiated amounts for the acquisition of said property rights. This ordinance relates to only ten parcels that lie outside of city limits for this project, but there are twenty-five more parcels that lie within city limits.

Resolution No. 2020-14 was also passed with an emergency clause, and it states, “entitled a resolution declaring the necessity and intention of the city to appropriate fee simple interests and temporary construction easements for ten parcels of the purpose of St. Rt. 598 widening.” 

Dr. Fellner made a “shameless plug” at the meeting that on Saturday morning, the Grace Point Methodist Church is having free oil changes for single mothers. Those wishing to attend can contact the church’s office. 

Mayor Tom O’Leary informed the council that the biggest issue with the budget is the health insurance after receiving an initial quote from the city’s health insurance provider.  

“Health insurance costs and the decision of whether to go out and search the market again after one year are the two biggest issues on the spending side coming into this year,” O”Leary said. “All of us are a little anxious about the revenue, so you’ll probably see in the first go at it, there will be some pretty conservative adjustments in revenue increases. The state recommended a nine percent reduction in income tax—we are anticipating that, but we aren’t expecting any growth.”