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Council approves multiple grant applications, budget transfers and engineering contract
Summary
Galion City Council unanimously approved a set of ordinances and orders including two grant applications, several budget adjustments and a contract for an EPA-mandated sewer study; the measures were presented and passed mostly on unanimous roll calls.
Galion City Council passed a package of ordinances and orders on Monday that included grant applications for emergency radio equipment and fire-service equipment, several appropriations transfers and an engineering contract for a mandated sewer collection evaluation.
Key votes at the meeting included:
- Ordinance 2025-4 (multi-agency communications equipment): Council passed an ordinance authorizing the safety-service director to apply for and accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Commerce/Division of State Fire Marshal to add repeaters and radio equipment to the city’s MARC (multi-agency communications) system. The grant as presented requires no local match; council suspended rules and approved the ordinance by roll call.
- Ordinance 2025-5 (Assistance to Firefighters grant): Council authorized applying for up to $70,412 in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (FEMA) funds to replace or upgrade hose and other fire equipment. The ordinance notes the federal program typically funds 95% with a 5% local match; the local match was already budgeted in the capital plan and would be expended only if the city is awarded the grant.
- Ordinance 2025-6 (appropriations/transfers): Council approved ordinance 2025-6 to move and appropriate several fund balances, including cleaning up SAFER grant carryovers and appropriating about $344,000 tied to an airport grant and related reimbursements. The measure also included $300,000 discussed during the budget process to support the health department’s operating needs.
- Ordinance 2025-7 (advances for health department grants): Council advanced reimbursable grant expenses within health department funds so the department can continue grant-funded activities while awaiting state reimbursements; sections identified workforce development, HIV and STD grant funds for the advances.
- Ordinance 2025-8 (engineering contract for no-feasible-alternative analysis): Council awarded a professional services agreement for a “no feasible alternative” analysis and collection-system evaluation required by the EPA. Funding for the study will come from the stormwater account; staff said the study will identify where stormwater is entering the sanitary sewer system and help prioritize costly future infrastructure work.
Most of the items were moved to final reading under unanimous “suspend the rules” votes, and roll-call votes following motions recorded all “yes” responses on each ordinance as presented.
Ending: Council members said staff will follow up with details about grant timelines and with documentation of accounting entries for the transfers and advances; staff also noted that if federal or state reimbursements are delayed, the city will return to council for any further appropriation decisions related to those grants.
