Galion council debates $2.5 million Depot renovation; moves ordinance to third reading

Galion City Council on Jan. 14 debated Ordinance 2024-97, a $2.5 million funding package intended to finish Phase 2 of renovations at the Big 4 Depot. Councilors and the mayor discussed grant amounts, the city’s share, contingency funding and whether recent water-main failures should delay the project.

The ordinance would authorize the safety-service director to advertise for bids and enter a construction contract to complete depot renovations. Council members said about $1.5 million of the project would come from grants and other outside sources, with the city’s share cited in the meeting as approximately $143,000. Councilors and staff also discussed a contingency figure and other line items built into the project budget.

Councilor (Miss) George said the ordinance lists $2,500,000 but does not break down how much is coming from each fund, and asked for attachments showing sources and uses. Mayor Leary (identified in roll call) and administration staff indicated the attachments are on the backside of the ordinance and that the spreadsheet shows the funding mix; staff said the canopy for the depot is not included in this appropriation and is funded separately by a recent capital bill.

Speakers repeatedly raised concerns about local infrastructure needs. Several councilors linked the depot timing to recent water-main breaks in town and asked whether unanticipated repairs could constrain the city’s ability to pay its share. Council members and the mayor said the city has budgeted capital funds for water and sewer work — the mayor said the city is spending about $2.5 million on water-plant capital improvements this year — and that those expenditures were separate from the depot appropriation.

Discussion also addressed contingency planning. A councilor cited a design/contingency line and an approximate contingency figure of $226,000 mentioned during the debate; administration said a design contingency and construction contingency were included because final bids can reveal unforeseen issues on a century‑old building.

Supporters of completing the depot argued the project will advance Main Street revitalization and would bring the building back to productive use; one councilor noted a recent $800,000 state grant that made the current phase possible. Opponents or cautious members said they wanted more time to review attachments and to confirm the allocation from the local “freeze” funds and other sources before committing the city’s share.

After extended debate and several procedural motions, council did not adopt the ordinance on final reading that night. Instead, the council agreed to move Ordinance 2024-97 to third reading to allow additional review of supporting documents before a final vote.

What’s next: If council schedules the ordinance for final reading after staff provides a clear funding breakdown and updated bid timeline, members said the body will take the appropriation up again; if not, the ordinance will return on the next regular agenda as a third‑reading item.