GALION – The Galion city council passed an ordinance regarding pool pass rates at its recent Sept. 9 meeting. The pool pass rates, beginning with the 2015 swimming season, remains unchanged; but the word “family” has been changed to “household” to include non-traditional family units.
The issue of the meaning of the original word “family” arose this past summer when a non-traditional family [two women and their children] were not allowed to purchase a family pass. According to the ordinance “’family’ refers to mother, father and up to three (3) children.” After the revised ordinance came to council, it was sent back to committee, then back to council for three more meetings.
The revised language states: “’Household’ refers to two (2) adults and up to and including four (4) children who reside at the same residence.” Each additional child would cost $5 for the season pass to the pool.
The council also gave the go-ahead to use FAA grant funds and begin repairs to the Galion Airport, specifically the runway, taxiway and aprons. The grant will cover sealing and painting new markings. All airports get federal money for maintenance and upgrades. The FAA grant is a 10 percent/90 percent split with the city paying 10 percent of the maintenance cost.
Further, appropriation adjustments for the electric fund were approved by council and will now be submitted to the county auditor for approval. During the discussion councilman Jon Kleinknecht asked if the city were in compliance for getting out of fiscal emergency. He said residents were asking him about it.
Mayor Tom O’Leary said residents were also asking him that status of the city’s fiscal emergency and O’Leary deferred the question to auditor Brian Treisch. Treisch said two minor policy issues needed to be updated, but “financially, we’re good.” The changes in policy have been drafted, said Treisch, but there are also issues with month-end closing and bank reconciliations. He said that Galion would not get out of fiscal emergency in 2014, but perhaps in 2015.
O’Leary urged council to ask the office of Ohio auditor Dave Yost for more details.
