By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
Galion City Treasurer Paula Durbin got what she wanted on Wednesday evening and now the Galion Fire Department can get what it wants.
On Wednesday, Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary called a special meeting of the Galion City Council with an agenda that addressed the near-purchase of a new ladder truck for the Galion Fire Department.
Last week, Durbin refused to sign the check issued for the expenditure, written for the amount of $695,000, claiming that she hadn’t yet seen an ordinance that approved the purchase of the truck, nor had she viewed a certificate from Auditor Brian Treisch stating that the funds were available.
For six days, the truck sat, unclaimed, in the lot of a company in Columbus. During that time Galion firefighters had to deal with a fire at Covert Manufacturing without the aid of the ladder truck.
Four ordinances were put in front of City Council members on Wednesday prior to them going into executive session. Once the public meeting was called back to order, all measures were passed unanimously and without discussion.
With the motions that went forward, the purchase of the truck was approved, allotting the aforementioned $695,000. Appropriations were amended, and a $24,000 increase was given to the Fire Demolition Fund in declaring an emergency.
Following these changes, Durbin agreed to sign the check.
Once the truck has been picked up, a community open house will be organized to show community members the new addition.