By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

The City of Galion’s Electric Fund is much more stable and financially secure following Tuesday’s meeting of Galion City Council. Council members accepted the revised financial recovery plan for the upcoming year Tuesday, and implemented several changes in the process.

In the eyes of Mayor Tom O’Leary, two of the biggest changes involve the utilities department and will go a long way toward, “taking the pressure off the Electric Fund,” and providing, “fund integrity.” These two changes will see an end to removing money from the Electric Fund to add to the General Fund, and an end to the Sewer and Water departments not paying their electric bills.

Under previous administrations, it has not been an uncommon practice to see money transferred from the Electric Fund to the General Fund for the purpose of funding general government. This is a practice that will no longer occur.

The other change will see the Water and Sewer departments begin to pay their electric bills. This will further add to the fund integrity O’Leary mentioned and help keep money in the buckets where it belongs. Over the course of the next five years these two actions will result in approximately $2 million staying in the Electric Fund.

“It’s a big deal and I’m glad we did it,” O’Leary said.

Other changes in the financial recovery plan were $50,000 appropriated for repairs to the Depot, a Recreational Fund annual allowance, $70,000 to Capital Improvements, and the moving of the South East Storm Water project from 2015 to 2014.

Speaking on the part of the Depot, councilman Tom Fellner added, “It’s time to make a decision on what to do. If it’s viable, let’s set aside some money while it’s still usable.”

The Recreation Fund allowance, “show’s the city is interested in adding to the parks,” said Fellner.

The Capital Improvement money will go as seed money to apply for grants, among other projects, and the storm water project was moved up so as not to miss out on grant money.

This legislation was passed as a first reading, as Fellner thought it was, “wise to let the public have access to it.” With that being said, the idea of passing it at the next meeting as an emergency is being considered.

The final paperwork for the State Route 598 widening project was also approved, this one was as an emergency to meet deadlines. One more easement was accepted, with the two remaining already filed in court. Law Director Roberta Wade reported to council that new paperwork received means that one of those cases will in all likelihood be dismissed, leaving only one case that will go ahead in the courts.

Related ordinance number 2013-83, which governs all the appropriations for the project, continued down the trail to ratification by passing its second reading.

Galion YMCA Director Terry Gribble gave the year end Heise Park pool report, and it was not a good one. Citing the “challenging weather” of June and July, Gribble reported the biggest loss in their time running the pool. The City will be reimbursing the YMCA the $6,386 lost due to time spent closed and/or reduced attendance. This is in comparison with last year’s reimbursement of a mere $594, which was also the pool’s best year.

Despite the poor season, Gribble reported, “We look forward to operating the pool again in 2014.”

In the announcements portion of the meeting, it was brought up that the final day to submit electric bills without penalty is Friday, Nov. 29. However, as the utilities office will be closed that day no penalties will be assessed for bills not submitted by that day. This is the same action the city took last year, and the deadline has been pushed back to Monday, Dec. 2.

Also in announcements, due to when the Christmas holiday falls, the December regular Council meetings will be Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.