By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
A busy night of ordinances concerning finances took place in Galion Tuesday night.
Auditor Brian Treisch and the Finance Committee asked for appropriations adjustments, grant bidding was considered, and the police and fire pension contracts received final readings.
Ordinance number 2014-70 dealt with the largest of the appropriations adjustments. The big number there was $2.07 million to the Electric Fund. Treisch cited the need for this as multi-fold. The city is spending more on power than was initially anticipated. The winter was extremely cold and overall consumption has been up throughout the year. The cost of power has gone up more than was expected.
In talking about why consumption is up, the exact reasons have not yet been pinpointed. However, Treisch added that income tax collections are up over 15 percent at this point last year. This might indicate more activity in the business sector and an increase in consumption.
Mayor Tom O’Leary was quick to point out that this would not increase rates, and does not mean a decrease in collections. This is simply increasing the City’s spending authority to meet those needs.
Council entertained an ordinance that would allow for bidding for an FAA grant for airport improvements. The project funded by the grant would be a 90/10 split with the city paying a 10-percent share of $7,600 for paving of the runways, taxiway, and aprons.
This paperwork needs to be completed by Sept. 15 so a motion was made to suspend the rules on all three readings and pass it with emergency status to meet the deadline. This motion failed with Mike Richart voting in the negative, and the absence of Mrs. Beach meant the required six votes were not met.
Richart gave his reasoning for voting no by saying he has checked the airport and does not believe the paving to be an immediate concern. He also believes that through a regular grant that the city already receives, the money for this project can be attained next year without the city’s 10-percent share. Although Richart voted down the suspension of the rules, he voted to move the ordinance along to a second reading.
An unpaid invoice that was marked as paid during the computer system changeover received attention. A bill of $5,669 to M.P. Ferris for engineering work on the 598 project was the subject of a then and now payment. The rules were suspended and passed on a final reading.
A water line break occurred on the 598 bridge project, but O’Leary reported at the beginning of the meeting that this problem had been handled.
The Hesby Drive project has been deemed a success, but a few speeding tickets have been handed out Tuesday which prompted the administration to remind everyone that the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. The fact that no street lights have been installed was also recognized and that problem will hopefully be addressed in the fall.