By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Galion City Council members dealt with zoning changes and applications for grants from the Freese Foundation at Tuesday’s meeting.
A public hearing and subsequent legislation began the process of streamlining zoning amendments. The current set up requires any change in zoning to receive a public hearing with the zoning committee and with City Council. It was felt that requiring this extra public hearing with the zoning committee was redundant and unnecessarily prolonged the process. Going forward, any change to the code that the commission wishes to enact will only mandate a public hearing at city council.
There was also a change to the zoning code itself, not just the mode in which changes are enacted. It was recommended to relax restrictions on auto service businesses, not selling fuel, in the downtown area; as long as everything is contained within the building in question and there are no negative effects to surrounding buildings. Some examples of potential sites would be the old Angelini’s and Buckeye Pump buildings.
The changes regarding auto service would really revert the zoning code to the way things used to be. This is also a pro-business move in a very literal sense, as Mike Richart relayed to council that there is direct interest for a business of this type to move into Galion. With that in mind, council passed the zoning code changes with a suspension of the rules and straight to a final reading.
The newly created Freese Grant Advisory Board made its first recommendations to City Council about the approval of possible projects. This board hears applications for funding, makes its recommendations to council, who then passes them on to the Egbert M. Freese Foundation Board for final approval.
The new rules also allow for greater collaboration between community entities when it comes to applying for funds. The new system broadened the spectrum of who is able to apply, while instituting a 25-percent match of funds to be made by the applying parties.
The first round of approved applications were as follows: $360,000 for an application submitted by the Galion Boosters Club for the following projects: Unckrich Stadium south bleachers and home side press box, $135,000; New concession facility Unckrich Stadium, $75,000; reconditioned bleachers for Unckrich and baseball stadium, $7,500; new Musco lighting at baseball field, $97,500; repurposing of lighting at girls softball field, $37,500; PA system, $3,750; and playing surface material, $3,750.
Othher approved applications were $200,000 for the construction of a splash park facility at East Park in Galion; and $7,500 to the Galion YMCA for repaving of a parking lot.
At the last regular meeting of council, there had been discussion of a possible ordinance enforcing smoke detector regulations. Much of the discussion had focused on the penalties to be leveled at those in violation. The general consensus was that the proposed penalties were too onerous. This feeling was confirmed at last night’s meeting as Ordinance 2015-7 was officially tabled and returned to committee for further discussion.