By Kerry Rahm
krahm@wbcowqel.com
The Galion City Council heard from a concerned citizen on Tuesday night regarding the city’s proposed revision of the Stormwater Credit Policy.
Howard Morrow addressed the council with his thoughts about Ordinance 2016-75. The ordinance was on the night’s agenda to amend section 933.08 under its second reading.
The proposed amendment states that the city’s Safety Service Director be appointed to “hear appeals regarding disputes and complaints,” as opposed to a board created to do so.
Morrow believed he should be able to have input into what the city is doing concerning “improvements in areas we are having stormwater problems with,” and he stated that council didn’t go through the proper channels to prepare plans for problematic areas.
Morrow told the council that they need to “leave [the ordinance] alone- it’s a good ordinance.”
Later when council was preparing to discuss 2016-75, Morrow interrupted Council President Carl Watt, who told Morrow he already had his allotted time to speak.
Morrow continued on regardless, and admonished the council for their lack of questions regarding the issue.
“You need to table the ordinance,” Morrow said.
Watt turned his focus back to council, and Morrow interjected again. Watt tapped his gavel several times and told Morrow he was out of order, and Morrow responded by saying it was “his constitutional right to address council.”
Watt continued on, asking council for roll-call, and 2016-75 then passed its second reading.
The council also passed third readings for the Design Review Amendment (2016-65) and the Vactor Jet Truck purchase (2016-70) under emergency.
First readings of other ordinances included 2016-82, regarding a bridge inspection program, and 2016-83 which concerned a transfer of funds to allow the purchase of bulletproof vests, according to Auditor Brian Treisch.
Council member Shirley Clark remarked on the popularity of the city’s splash park. “It was very well accepted, we had a lot of compliments, I was so glad to finally see it come to reality instead of us just talking about it like we did for three years.”
Clark discussed potential plans for next year, including keeping the park open for longer hours and whether or not to charge admission to the park or keep it free for the public.
Public Information Officer Matt Echelberry spoke about the city’s official website and how it received over 10,000 visits for the months of July and August. Total visits for July, August and September tallied to 13,698, compared to April, May and June when the numbers totaled 719 visits, for a 90 percent increase in web traffic overall.