By Courtney Taylor
news@wbcowqel.com
The Finance Committee of the Galion City Council spent nearly 40 minutes discussing various possible changes with the Freese Grant process on Wednesday. But when the meeting was all said and done, committee members took no action.
The Freese Grant discussion included grant restrictions, time limits, and proceedings on how to obtain the grant.
Next on the agenda was the passing of ordinance number 2017-17, establishing the new tax increment financing (TIF) fund 414, which “accounts for the receipt of funds from debt proceeds and service payments and expenditure of funds for the repayment of tax increment financing related debts.”
Also passed was ordinance number 2017-16 which regards transferring funds from unappropriated funds to appropriated funds. This includes $8,300 to be used for fireworks this year and $1,783 to be transferred into the Depot Fund.
The last ordinance to be passed was number 2017-7 in regards to approving prior acts of the department and the expenditure of $3,684.45 for gas service to Columbia Gas.
The last order of business was a presentation from Matt Britt of the Service Department. Britt spoke on how they are in great need of a new boom mower, as the one being used currently is upwards of 25 years old, impractical, and unsafe. A new one would cost roughly $130K, but would vastly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the service department. Though it had already been sent to full council, the committee decided to amend Britt’s request to ordinance number 2017-13.