By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The City of Galion will be looking to receive some help from the federal and state governments with the city’s victim’s assistance program.
Galion City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night for the submission and acceptance of the Federal Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) and the State Victims Assistance Act (SVAA) for the amount of $37,399.26 and $1,417, respectively. Both would cost the city an in-kind match of $7,479.86. The term of the grant would be for fiscal year 2018.
The grant would cover most of the costs for the city’s victim’s assistance program, which provides confidential resources for the victims of crimes with counseling, courtroom support services, a liaison between the victim and law enforcement and other agencies, notification of court dates for all hearings, assistance with preparation of filing compensation claims, assistance with preparing and making victim impact statements and referrals to other social service agencies.
Law Director Thomas Palmer noted that it would help cover the salary and benefits for Galion VOCA Advocate Barbara Letizia.
The council approved the first reading of amending the city’s subdivision regulation. The amendment to the current ordinance on the books is removing the words “the installation of any required utilities” from what constitutes as a minor subdivision classification. If passed through all three readings, the amendment would match those of Bucyrus, Marion, and Mansfield, as well as the Ohio Revised Code.
“It basically questions whether a developer needs to go through the entire platting process,” Palmer noted during the public hearing on the amendment.
Palmer also noted it would allow more projects to be approved by the Galion City Building Inspector as opposed to going through the full platting process.
After transformer problems emerged at the powerlines outside of Covert Manufacturing, the city’s Line Department jumped into action providing a backup transformer to the area as well as using a power generator in order for the area to continue to have use of electricity. As a result, Galion City Council approved to transfer $34,930 within the Electric Fund. The money transferred will purchase a new transformer for the power line, as well as replace the fuel that was used when the generator was in use.
Galion council also passed first readings of the Staffing Ordinance Update, which would provide an added part-time position within the police department, as well as appointments of City Auditor Brian Treisch to the Regional Income Tax Agency with Treasurer Rodney Sparks as the alternate representative for the city of Galion.