GALION—Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary unabashedly admitted he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to promote the construction of the Freese Center.
During an Economic Development meeting Tuesday evening, Chad Miller from the Airport Authority gave an update on current projects. Miller told the committee that they are ready to construct the first of five houses on Winchester Road near the old Renschville school.
Miller said they had got approval to receive grant money awarded to the city by the EPA for a two-phase building project. They have chosen 89 Home builders out of Jeromesville to build the first home. Construction on the 1350-square-foot home will take 16 weeks. It will feature three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a full unfinished basement.
Miller explained that the Port Authority can provide things that the city cannot. For instance, they can pass their sales and use tax exemptions on to the builder to reduce building costs, saving $8,000-$10,000 in sales tax exemptions alone. The purchasers of the homes will get a 50% tax credit for the next fifteen years. That equates to savings of around three house payments per year.
Miller admitted there are no new projects on the radar other than the ones already known.
O’Leary told the committee that he is close to having enough support from the council to move forward with the Freese Center construction.
“The Freese Center remains close. I don’t believe it’s gone. It’s not dead.
If I thought the votes were there, I’d ramrod this thing through in a big way,” O’Leary said.
Miller told the committee that the Port Authority is reevaluating a different path to funding the center.
The Committee chairperson, Melissa Frank, told the committee she supports projects to enhance younger people and families. She wants options for residents other than the YMCA.
O’Leary said for the project to move forward, people need to stop bickering about its design and location. “We need to reconstruct the source of funds. We are not getting the state funding we had hoped for,” O’Leary said.
French told the committee: “In talking to the community, everyone wants a hub restaurant, a chain, like Applebee’s, which I really think Galion needs. I don’t know if that’s been talked about or encouraged. There isn’t any place to go really.”
“I would say this, Crawford County Now will pick this up; vote for the Freese Center and you’ll have your restaurant. If the Freese Center were built, you’d see renewed activity out there,” O’Leary replied.
O’Leary talked about the establishment of Tim Horton’s nine years ago and how the public wants more.
“Yeah, because they run out of spinach bites by 10:30,” French said.
Miller went on to warn the committee that while the Port Authority is good now, without contracts for building, they will face cuts in August. Last October, the Port Authority was budgeted to receive $75,000 from the city but needs twice that amount.
Their revolving loan funds sit at between $65,000-$70,000 when they should be at $100,000. He talked about various cuts that will have to be made due to the reduced opportunities to support funding through the end of the year.
NOTE: Crawford County Now reached out to Galion’s Tim Horton’s. We learned Tim Horton’s has 20 employees on their schedule. They greet each customer with the same question;
“What can we make fresh for you today?” In keeping with their policy of providing fresh foods, they will make an order of spinach, egg whites, or anything else on the menu upon request. Peak times for breakfast are 8-11 am. If a customer is willing to wait, they will make them fresh as promised.