By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
The City of Galion welcomed a new employee Tuesday night with the introduction of Dan Butte as the new Utility Office Supervisor.
Butte comes to the City from the State Adjutant General’s Office and brings with him a wealth of contract administration experience. His role with the State saw him administering the contracts and facilities of all the armories in the State, and Mayor Tom O’Leary expressed his satisfaction at what those experiences would provide to the City of Galion.
“I’m really excited to be able to draw on his experience and help manage contracts,” O’Leary said.
Another new face was welcomed to the Council, as an executive session was held to consider three candidates for the council seat vacated by Carl Watt when he was named President of Council. Susan Bean, Cathy George, and Dennis Rose were the candidates being reviewed, with Bean getting the nod.
Turning to legislation, Safety-Service Director John Swain got the go-ahead from Council to accept bids for the Hesby Drive construction project. This drive is the alternate route that will provide access to the businesses along St. Rt. 598 while the highway is being widened.
Meetings will be held Thursday with business owners and a representative of the Hesby Fund to consider a temporary road to provide truck access to these businesses while the project is underway. A temporary road, capable of providing the kind of truck access that would allow for the receipt of shipping and cargo, would cost in the neighborhood of $30,000. These meetings will be to gauge interest from the business owners in completing such an access road.
If there is interest from the business owners the City will do what it can to assist its construction, but has no intention of putting up the entirety of the $30,000.
O’Leary stated his desire to help, but, “I don’t believe we should be the first dollar in on that,” citing the amount of money that the City has put toward the widening of 598 already.
Members of Council gave approval for an agreement with Hyperion Energy to conduct an LED city light study. This study, which is not to exceed $3500, will examine the effectiveness and feasibility of retrofitting “municipally-owned, non-metered lights” with LED lights as a cost savings measure. This study will attempt to find out if such a retrofit can save money, and, if it can, what steps and materials can make those savings a reality.
The City is under no obligation to continue with Hyperion Energy Solutions after the study is completed.
Continuing the energy discussion, Bob Cerrar posed several questions to Council during that public comments about “Smart Meters.” Cerrar was not passing judgment either way on the meters or the company, but expressed his wish that Council, “Please step carefully.”
He asked that the difference between smart meters and remote meters be investigated, that potential health problems be considered, and he asked Council to look into the concerns expressed by municipalities who have had these meters and are now trying to get rid of them.
Council lent its support to the efforts of the proposed Disc Golf Project at Amanns/Amicks Reservoir. Shirley Clark and Eric Webber, of the Parks and Recreation Committee, described how the installation of a disc golf course would be of little to no cost to the City, and provide the community with a venue to participate in a sport that has boomed in Ohio the last several years. There is even potential for the hosting of tournaments that could bring in participants from a multi-state area, should the course meet certain qualifications.
The setting of the course will not require any additional services on the part of the City, and once the course is established will cost nothing for the citizens of Galion to use. This support from Council allows the interested parties to approach the community for donations and sponsorships with the full knowledge that Galion is behind the project.