By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
Galion’s City Council spent the bulk of Tuesday’s meeting on two key issues for the community. Council eventually loaned money to fix one and soundly criticized the other.
The first of the major discussions of the evening revolved around a presentation given by Hal Keller of the Ohio Capital Corporation for housing. Keller and a group of representatives were in attendance to explain the legislation on the agenda that dealt with the Central Hotel Senior Apartments on Public Square in Galion.
Ten years ago, the Ohio Capital Corporation, a nonprofit organization that works with local communities to provide affordable housing projects, invested in the Central Hotel building and helped to build the facility that became home to residents of the 30 available units. All was well until when, 18 months ago, there were some structural issues noticed in the basement. Upon inspection, it was found that the building had, without the knowledge of Keller or his compatriots, been constructed very poorly.
Immediate action was taken and, after evaluation of the problem, it was determined that the building will be rehabilitated and, in the case of 12 units, demolished and rebuilt completely.
Keller assured council that legal action was being taken against the individual responsible for the faulty work, and that the corporation will be doing everything in its power to rectify the issue. In order for this to happen, and for the city to have equity in determining the future of the building, a loan was requested from the city.
This loan, which would amount to around $980,000, would liquidate the Revolving Loan Fund, which is money, given by the State of Ohio, set aside specifically for situations such as this, so this loan does not affect the city budget whatsoever. The Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing will cover all the rest of the cost.
Council made it very clear that there was a bit of skepticism in the room, as working with this particular group had led them into this circumstance. But was also quick to recognize that Keller and his associates were going above and beyond to make sure that all was recovered into a sound structure that is essential to the community of Galion. The decision was passed to move ahead.
The second large discussion that took place was in relation to the group known as the Citizens for Galion, who have moved forward with getting signatures on a petition to get an issue placed on the November ballot for the repayment of alleged overcharges in citizen’s electric bills.
Auditor Brian Treisch, Law Director Thomas Palmer, Mayor Tom O’Leary, and members of council all stressed the fact that such an audit would be an immense detriment to the good of the city.
According to Treisch, the audit, which would be paid for by the City of Galion, would only serve to put said city right back into fiscal emergency, just when it is on the cusp of getting out of such a situation. It was also stressed that, though there may be promises of large sums of money returned, in reality it may be around $25 per citizen.
Council member Shirley Clarke asks citizens to consider whether or not such extremes, such a financial blow to the general fund, would be worth it for those amounts.
Law Director Thomas Palmer spoke to the issue by commenting on the financial impact that paying for such an audit would have on the city, calling the efforts legally improper and badly motivated.
Council President Carl Watt put a punctuation mark on the discussion by simply restating that the audit would be “horrible for the city” and challenges residents to “get out in the community and defend the issue.”