A bike path in Galion is now closer to reality. During City Council’s Sept. 24 meeting, a land purchase agreement was approved for a wooded area in which the path will go through. The city is purchasing 4.626 acres of land for $13,200. It is located south of Wildflower Drive and immediately west of the Olentangy River.

Council later authorized bidding for the bike path project. Cost is not to exceed $257,640, to be paid from grant funding received from the Egbert M. Freese Foundation. The funding was originally approved for the project in 2018.

Council also gave authorization to apply for and accept Ohio Public Works Commission funding for the fourth phase of the Southeast Storm Sewer project. The total project cost is estimated at $600,775. The city will apply for $185,000 in the form of a 0% interest loan from OPWC

A final reading was also passed for a wetland mitigation purchase agreement related to property donated to the city at the US 30-State Route 598 interchange. The purchase amount is $50,550 for 1.1 acres of wetland mitigation credits under section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

Richard Kelly, an environmental consultant helping with the application, was on hand to clarify several aspects of the process. When the permit is issued, it is active for 2.5 years and can be extended. The permit must be tied to an activity but not necessarily a specific project. The appraised value of the land is $700,000 and ownership is transferrable.

A grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety was accepted. The Fire & EMS Department will receive $2,955 for the purchase of replacement equipment. Fire Chief Phil Jackson explained there is no match requirement but funds must be spent this year. He will be approaching council again this year regarding a larger grant.

Board appointments for the newly created Galion Port Authority were also approved. The appointees are: Chris Cochran, Gary Frankhouse, Deb Garverick, Chanel Hipp, Eric Kent, Chad Miller and Rod Staiger.

Ordinances 2019-66 and 2019-67 were appropriation amendments in various departments. Both passed as final readings.

A third ordinance for appropriation adjustments within the Health Department budget was held to a first reading. The department received additional grant funding which needs to be appropriated. City officials had questions regarding how specifically grant funds would be spent.