By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Recommendations for Galion’s Audit Committee were put on hold Tuesday night during a busy Galion City Council meeting.
LaMar Wyse, and Dennis Rose were up for the appointments into the Audit Committee, however their names were recalled once Councilman Andrew Daniels noted that the Auditor had previous business relationships with Galion Auditor Brian Treisch.
Treisch explained it was an honest mistake.
“It was an oversight on my part. I didn’t realize because that I had a financial relationship with the gentlemen that the appointment would be inappropriate, and I blundered on that,” Treisch said. “I have got other candidates that are available for that, and we will name those at the next council meeting and move forward.”
“These two gentlemen were very strong candidates, but because I was involved with them in one fashion or another, it would be inappropriate,” Treisch continued. “And as soon as Mr. Daniels asked that question I realized I blundered. “
That wasn’t the only piece of legislation held back during Tuesday night’s meeting. The third reading for the resolution requesting that the Ohio Attorney General investigate Prairie State Energy Campus contracts was pushed back to Aug. 27.The motion to move the third reading wasn’t a unanimous one however, with Dr. Tom Fellner voting against the move.
The Galion City Council also moved two proposed ordinances into committee Tuesday night prior to the agenda being approved. Both Ordinance No. 2013-59, which would authorize the agreement with Clemans Nelson and Associates for Employee Relations, and Personal Consultant Services, and Ordinance No. 2013-60, which would set bond requirements for the auditor and treasurer were tabled for discussion in Galion’s Finance Committee.
Galion will become the next city in Ohio with an Energy Special Improvement District (ESID) after council approved accepting the petition of the Geyer Corporation to set up an ESID. Galion won’t be charged with the development of the district as it is the Geyer Corporation who wants to use the ESID in order to reduce cost as well as increase energy efficiency during a $2.5 million renovation of the Geyer Market store located at 230 Portland Way North.
Galion Council approved to Authorize Safety/Service Director John Swain to start accepting bids for Liberty Street and Neumann Street paving projects. The projects which were first proposed in 2011 were approved in emergency in order to collect funds allocated for the project in the fiscal year of 2012.
Swain’s experience of service was called into question Tuesday night during the first reading of the ordinance that would set salary and benefits for the city’s safety/service director. After Mayor Tom O’Leary gave his reasoning to why he chose Swain, the council unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance that would set the salary and benefits for the position.
Two lots were rezoned from Residential Office to General Commercial Tuesday night. The lots on the west side of Portland Way North between Timberlane Drive and Freese Works Place were rezoned under emergency. Stephen Wasserman addressed council making it clear that Firelands Credit Union intends to purchase the newly rezoned land in order to build a 4,000 square foot branch for Firelands Credit Union.
The Council approved the second reading of adopting a tax ordinance for current expenses as well as other expenditures for the city through the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.
Council also approved appropriations to the Fire Demolition Account in order to refund the insurance damage deposits to the owners of the properties.