By Jordan Studer
CCN Reporter

GALION — Six ordinances were passed during Galion City Council’s regular meeting Tuesday evening.

The first being an ordinance allocating the recipients of funds from a three-percent levied tax on all rents received a hotel for lodging guests occupying a room for less than thirty days.

Other passed ordinances included:

  • An ordinance approving the recommendation made by the City of Galion Planning Commission to re-zone several outlots, 922-925, from rural estate to general commercial.
  • An ordinance placing $25,000 from unappropriated funds into the Convention and Visitors Bureau Fund.
  • An ordinance passed regarding House Bill 49, which created specific requirements for municipal income tax codes. Council all seemed to be hesitant about passing this due to it violating the Home Rule Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

The Home Rule Amendment, essentially, was created to give cities and villages more power and flexibility to create laws or take action on matters that is not specifically covered in the Ohio Revised Code. Galion Law Director Thomas Palmer explained that despite this violation, the city’s hands are essentially tied and must pass the ordinance.

The ordinance reluctantly was approved by all members of council. After hearing the kickback from council, Palmer suggested that if the city wanted to fight the violation that is taking away more power and flexibility of city governments, he would be more than willing to help.

Other ordinances included:

  • An ordinance passed allowed the issuance and sale of notes for the cost of improving various improvements to the Brandt Road area. It was explained that within the improvement project construction of new roadway between Ohio 598 and Keller Drive would be made.
  • Also, the widening of the road on Ohio 598 to create a turn lane will be created to allow access to the Sleep Inn from 598, in addition to the current Brandt Road entrance. Finally, any necessary storm water drainage systems will be constructed.
  • One final ordinance was passed regarding a yearly financial exercise done to issue notes to pay for city upkeep.

In other Council business, Mayor Tom O’Leary wanted to issue a warning to the community that a third-party online service is claiming they have the ability to accept Galion Utility payments and will transfer them to their proper place.

O’Leary explained that the transfer of funds may take longer than desired to reach the city and charges might be improperly given for failure of payment for Galion Utilities should the payments not be transferred by the proper date.

An advisory will be put online to warn the community of the proper place to pay. Further investigation into the third party is being conducted.

Lastly, O’Leary mentioned the pothole tax Ontario is considering placing on its ballot, which would create a 0.25-percent income tax on residential roads.

“It is on all income, therefore the many people that work in Ontario will be subjective to that, but the money will be intentionally spent on roads they have no interest on driving on,” O’Leary said.

O’Leary further explained why he thinks the proposed income tax is unfair, saying that since Ontario is a regional employer, he believes many communities will be affected by this tax. He continued to explain that since many employees of Ontario do not reside there, they will be having to pay for roadways in which they may have no intentions of driving upon.

O’Leary suggested the City of Galion should rally together against the income tax, “I think whether we can do anything to affect the minds of Ontario voters, we certainly should speak with a loud, somewhat organized voice about how inappropriate it is.”