GALION—Chuck Cangelosi of the Avita Foundation spoke at Tuesday evening’s Galion City Council Meeting seeking financial support to purchase two kidney dialysis machines to be housed at Galion Hospital. The foundation is seeking $26,000 in ARPA (American Recovery Act Plan) funds toward the purchase of two kidney dialysis machines.
Cangelosi told council that through grants and donations that four of six machines had already been purchased. Two machines are located in Ontario Hospital, two in Bucyrus Hospital, and the final two are to be in Galion Hospital.
The project became a focus during the height of the Covid Pandemic when patients needed dialysis in the hospital. Cangelosi said Avita currently leases the machines and contracts from the vendor for techs to clean, sanitize and operate them. He told council Avita wants to take more ownership of the machines and that while it would not create additional positions at this time, there are many nurses on staff willing to be trained on how to maintain and run the machines.
Councilwoman Kara Ault asked Cangelosi if the city assigned the monies would it result in a lower patient cost. Ault pointed out that the average patient cost per dialysis treatment is $1200. She asked if, in light of council’s support if a lower cost would be passed on to patients:“ It takes roughly 20 treatments to pay for the machine. So will the costs to patients be less?” Ault asked.
Cangelosi told Ault that the math does not line up that way. He said revenues are reinvested, and transplant education would continue to evolve. “ Patient costs won’t go down,” Cangelosi said.
Mayor Tom O’Leary expressed his concerns that if the city would support Avita and then they’d pull out of Galion and move their operations to one location outside of his city, the machines would go with them.
“ My concern is that the growth of Avita should include the growth of Galion,” O’Leary said. He wanted guarantees that for its life, the equipment would remain at Galion Hospital.
Cangelosi explained that the machines would be inventoried, tagged, and assigned to Galion through the Ohio Department of Health. He told council the ODH could call an equipment audit at any time, and equipment must be where it was assigned, or Avita would face penalties.
“ODH doesn’t care. We care.” OLeary said. He noted that Bucyrus and other cities did not use ARPA funds to pay for the machines, so he wanted assurance they would remain in Galion.
Galion Law Director Thomas Palmer told council he could prepare an addendum before the next meeting to include the guarantee O’Leary requested before funds are to be disbursed.
In other council news, funding was approved for the repair and beautification of downtown areas, including trees, new plantings, gazebo work, and a mural on the wall near the old Spectrum building. Council will be reviewing renditions of various themes for the wall at a later time.
Galion resident Richard Jones told the council he sees an ongoing problem with people burning unauthorized trash in burn rings. Jones said the burning happens primarily after dark, and the fumes are pungent and clearly not seasoned wood. He asked council to consider printing notices against the practice along with potential consequences on the electronic bills. Council said that while that is an excellent idea, the best course of action is to keep calling the fire department when he sees the burning occurring. Jones also said he had spoken with Eric Baldinger about the issue of dog fesses not being picked up when people walked their dogs. He said his own sidewalks were covered with feces from a neighbors dog. He asked the city to begin citing offenders. “It’s about respect. We all live close to one another,” Jones said.