By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Galion City Council members took aim Tuesday night at what some called gouging, others outrageous, and hit the bulls eye.
Ordinances 2014-50, -51, and -52 eliminated commercial building department fees, water capacity surcharges, and sanitary sewer capacity surcharges, respectively.
The commercial building fees were eliminated to remove Galion as the middle man between those contracting the work, and the engineering departments in Richland County. In the past, plans would have to be presented to Galion, who would have to pass them along to Richland County, who would have to approve them, and then return them to Galion. The City would then be able to return them to those doing the work.
Councilman Tom Fellner reported that in the past, local contractors held a meeting with the City asking for this arrangement, alluding to its inefficiency. The only downside is that individuals will now have to travel to Mansfield on their own, but the upshot of that is that their paperwork will be handled much more quickly.
The sewer and water capacity fees were enacted in 2005, in what Tom Fellner called a, “knee-jerk reaction to gain revenue in a short-sided way.” The city was much deeper in its financial difficulties at the time, and this seemed like a way to recoup some revenue.
These fees are essentially extra surcharges for someone wishing to gain access to the city’s utility offerings. The city has a tap-in fee, and having these charges on top of that were actually hurting the city’s ability to grow. Finance Committee Chairman, Mike Richart, stated that this was something they had been hoping to do for a long time, and was actually the brainchild of departed councilman Matt Strickler. According to Richart, removing these charges is removing an “inhibition.”
Another series of legislation provided official administrative rules for the Planning and Zoning Commission. This body has been acting without administrative rules, although following the Ohio Revise Code, since October of 2013. The Board of Zoning Appeals was also re-instituted and reconstituted. Mayor Tom O’Leary stated his intention to approach members of the previous board to “invite some of the knowledge back.”
In planning and zoning news, there was a public hearing concerning rezoning of the Charlie’s Market Area. This meeting was followed with legislation that officially did just that. The area will go from General Commercial to General Industrial. This change was made to allow the growing Schilling Graphic to proceed with an expansion. Eric Kent of the planning commission added that his body voted in favor of this move.
Councilman Eric Webber submitted an official letter of resignation to President Carl Watt. Webber’s letter stated that due to a housing change he will no longer be able to represent the First Ward. He expressed his resignation with regret and was commended and thanked for his service.