By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The third reading of the Efficiency Smart ordinance at Galion City Council was nearly tabled during Tuesday night’s meeting, however, voices from the business community urged that the measure couldn’t wait any longer.
During the third reading a motion to table the measure was put on the floor from council member Mark Triplett, and seconded by Susan Bean. The motion to table the measure until the next budget meeting was met with disdain from the business community who attended the council meeting.
Prior to discussion, Council President Carl Watt explained that the current five-year forecast for utilities within the city wasn’t looking that good for the city, and he encouraged people to come to the Dec. 7 meeting to gain insight into the budget.
Chris Stone, owner of the Eighteen-O-Three Taproom spoke first.
“I was under the impression that the Efficiency Smart Program pays for itself,” Stone said.
“It is a line item on the bill, it is picked up on the power bill,” Mayor Tom O’Leary explained.
Eric Flick of Flick Packaging out of Galion was for approval of the measure.
“I want this to go through, it has been through three times now,” Flick said. “It sounds to me that due to a poor five-year outlook that we would be cutting a program that would help the businesses in town. The fact that you want to kick it down the line is mind boggling.”
Matt Horn of Galion LLC noted that the passing of the measure was urgent for businesses.
“I don’t see a need to push this anymore,” Horn said. “As a business owner I have timelines to meet. If you push this back it means I have to put production of a contract on hold, which means I can’t hire 15 to 30 employees for the contract until after it passes.”
Triplett countered with the reason he asked for the measure to be tabled.
“My concern is we need discussion on the budget. We don’t want to raise the rates,” Triplett said.
“I have a business in town, I understand what both sides are saying, and I am for it,” council member James Hedges added.
“We could add it to the proposed Dec. 7 special council meeting and pass the third reading then,” council member William Comerford noted.
Horn added that even a small postponement would hurt his business.
“Postponing it anytime hurts me,” Horn said. “I have a $35 million contract with the army for cement mixers with rapid set so if there is a hole in the road the military can pour the cement and move over it rather quickly. Currently, I am utilizing the old Galion Iron Works building, and I had all the old bulbs retro-fitted for LED. The savings on that alone would allow me to hire one more employee than what is in the budget.”
O’Leary put the rate increase for the project in perspective.
“It is about $420,000 on a power increase of $30 million over three years. The percent would be .4 percent of a new revenue raise,” O’Leary said. “The rate increase is happening regardless. Eliminating the bill would be eliminating what the businesses would be able to save.”
After the discussion, Triplett removed his motion to table the ordinance, and Bean refused to remove her motion which was defeated 5-1. The ordinance passed 5-1 with Bean being the lone dissenter.
Galion Firemen Jay Gaffney and Mike Saurers were sworn in as lieutenants in the Galion Fire Department prior to council voting on the ordinances.
“They went through a few stations on testing, they handled some task-oriented testing and rose to the top,” Galion Fire Chief Phil Jackson said.
A vacation of unimproved portions of Carpenter Avenue, Berry Street, Harmon Avenue, and Herbert Avenue to the owners of the adjacent properties was approved for a second reading 6-0. The motion to suspend the rules for emergency was voted down with a no vote from Bean.
The ordinance approving the vacation of alleyways in the same area were approved on a second reading as well.
The City of Galion will retain a 50-feet easement along the Olentangy River for a possible bike or hiking trail in the future.
Council approved a CRA Agreement with Longstreth Memorials, which is moving to a new location on Portland Way North. With the CRA agreement, the oldest business in Galion, dating back to 1868, would receive a 50-percent tax reduction over a 12-year period.
Longstreth hopes to break ground on the new location on Dec. 1.
Council approved the sale of a Washington Street house in the ownership of the Galion Police Department. The house was obtained during a drug bust. The funds from the sale of the house would go towards equipment and training for the police department.
All other items on the agenda were approved including first readings for the 2017 budget, an amendment to the Recovery Plan, and an emergency passing of Then and Now Certificates.