City council authorizes funding to replace two 2002 ambulances

GALION — There aren’t a lot of 16-year-old cars running flawlessly in this community.

So you can’t blame the fire chief for wanting to replace two similar-age rescue vehicles.

On Tuesday evening, Galion City Council approved legislation authorizing the funding for two new rescue vehicles. They will replace a pair of 2002 ambulances that have lasted well past their intended age.

The two vehicles will cost no more than $387,350.

“We had planned to replace them in 2012, but just kept putting it off,” said Galion Fire chief Phil Jackson. “We have a great maintenance department, but I think we’ve pushed them about as far as we can.”

A committee looked at several companies, and opted to go with Burgess Ambulance Sales of Loudonville, which will prep and outfit the units. One of the vehicles will be paid for with a FEMA grant.

Galion has three rescue vehicles units. Two are on duty all the time, the third — a 2009 model — although a back up, still gets called into action.

“It’s very common to have three units,” said Jackson, adding that in the past 12 months there have been 101 instances in which two ambulances were being used at the same time in Galion, and 10 instances in which all three were being used.

Also attending Tuesday’s meeting was Colonel Crawford High School senior Kenneth Fernandez. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 109 and is working toward his Eagle Scout badge. His community service includes filling food pantries in Galion, Bucyrus and Crestline.

Ferndandez has been going door-to-door in all three communities asking for donations of non-perishable goods. Items collected in Galion will go to Galion pantries, items collected in Bucyrus and Crestline will stay in those communities. His goal is to fill 100 bags and he said after the council meeting that he was well on his way.

He handed about about 20 bags at Tuesday’s meeting and cajoled city leaders — and anyone else on hand — into donating to his cause. Items for his food drive also can also be dropped off at Galion, Bucyrus and Crestline libraries; the YMCAs in Galion and Bucyrus; First Lutheran Church; Peace Lutheran Church; and Galion Building and Loan.

Also. on Tuesday, a zoning change was approved for about 6 acres of land on Portland Way North, just north of the car wash. The change is from Rural Estate to General Commercial and makes the acreage’s zoning consistent with other properties in the area. A possible sale of land in the area has been discussed and Mayor Tom O’Leary said the rezoning should help facilitate the sale, which could lead to more commercial development in the area.

“It’s another positive for the Portland Way North corridor,” he said.

O’Leary also update council members of the Englefield Oil construction project on the southeast corner of Harding Way West and Portland Way. The project — a makeover and enlargement of the Duke and Duchess station there —has been at a standstill for several weeks. He hopes to see the project moving again within about 30 days.

Council members passed seven pieces of legislation as emergencies, including two that rescinded previously-passed notes. One note was $124,000 for the purchase of a boom mower. The note was not needed because the purchase was instead paid out of the Storm Water Fund.

The mower has been delivered and a local company is assembling the equipment,” said Matt Echelberry, communications director for the city. In the meantime, Polk Township officials have agreed to mow some of the road ditches the new mower will eventually care for.

The second rescinded note was $731,000 for Tax Increment Financing used for infrastructure for the Sleep Inn hotel. TIF payments will be reimbursed annually by the hotel developer.

Also, Matt Horn and Erik Flick were appointed to the city’s Audit Committee.

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