By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
With the ground breaking on the new Sleep Inn hotel at 598 and Brandt Road earlier Tuesday, the Galion City Council approved numerous ordinances to get the project into full motion Tuesday night.
Three ordinances were passed Tuesday which involves the construction project, all of which were passed as emergency legislation in order to keep up with deadlines on the project. Two of the ordinances involved the creation of a TIF, as well as authorizing bidding for the projects.
The third ordinance dealt with appropriations amendments to numerous projects surrounding the hotel project including funding for stormwater, sewer, and streets in order to construct the sewer and stormwater extensions to the property as well as construct Keller Road which will lead to the hotel.
Mayor Tom O’Leary explained to council that the construction of these projects are being done with future commercial developments coming in the wake of the construction of the hotel.
“I think we have a good balance of not putting in too little, and not putting in too much,” O’Leary said. “I feel confident that it will allow for future growth.”
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The Galion City Council approved authorizing the city’s service/safety director to submit an application for an OFCC grant concerning the Big Four Depot pavilion. During discussion of the pavilion, former council member Roberta Wade spoke up raising a concern that the plans for the pavilion didn’t include that for bathrooms.
“That is a good concern about not having bathrooms,” O’Leary responded. “But currently we don’t have the funds for that within the project this year, but we will have them at a later date.”
Bidding for restrooms for East Park were approved. The restroom project is part of the splash park project.
The Hesby Drive rezoning ordinance which would rezone part of the area from residential to general commercial passed its third and final reading.
Council approved authorizing the bid for lease of the former crane plant. The city is seeking to lease out the structure for a limited time at the cost of $.12 per square foot with a minimum of lease for 250,000 square feet of the building.
An ordinance to secure gap funding to acquire the former Varsity Grill building was also approved.
Amending the staffing ordinance to include a deputy auditor as well as an administrative clerk drew some conflict from council. Numerous council members spoke out against the measure in expressing their concerns that the position would take too much money from the city while it is in fiscal emergency. City Auditor Brian Triesch explained that the amendment would increase the deputy auditor position from $39,000 to $43,000 to entice longevity in the position.
Triesch also noted that the pay raise would be offset with a reduction in salary for the administrative clerk which would be left as an empty position until the city is in better financial standing. The measure was approved 4-1 to a second reading with Gail Baldinger voting against the measure.
A contract with Polk Township for fire and EMS service was approved.