Galion City Council approves finances for 2016, beyond

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Galion City Council concluded the discussion of its finances for next year at Tuesday night’s regular meeting.

Council passed legislation to adopt the revised financial recovery plan, which was adjusted from the last meeting to pay for the Public Information Officer position.

For 2016, $36,100 was transferred from the building department for costs related to the position, Galion City Auditor Brian Treisch said.

The Public Information Officer will start in March and be paid $13.50 per hour in a 35-hour work week.

The Mayor’s budget will supplement an additional $2,800 for the PIO’s total benefits and salary of $38,900 for the 44 weeks worked in 2016, Treisch said.

He said benefits won’t start until after the selected candidate has worked 90 days in the job.

Treisch said the communication role would have increases from 2017 to 2020 as expected. During that time, the job is estimated to cost on average $50,000 per year, he said.

The changes involve no increases for the $35,519,420 budget for 2016, which Council also approved.

Aside from budgets, two new police officers were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting: Officers Darren Patrick, a native of Prospect, and Timothy Johnson III, who grew up in Mansfield.

The two had families present at the ceremony and Galion Police Chief Brian Saterfield said he looked forward to a long career with them.

“I’ll do my best to support the city of Galion,” Patrick said.

Johnson said he hopes to improve the community. He will start on the day shift, while Patrick starts in the afternoon. Saterfield said after a month the two will rotate for the other two shifts and hopes to have them ready by early next year.

In other business, Council:

APPROVED the final reading to allow the safety-service director to enter a contract extension with Polk Township for fire protection and emergency medical services, which will now expire on March 31, 2016. The original contract expires at the end of the year. Law Director Thomas Palmer said the township likes to continue the service but need time to finalize a new agreement. Fire Chief Phil Jackson said the final version would be for six years.

APPROVED legislation to appropriate $74,500 in unappropriated funds for various city funds this year.

Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary, center, swears in two new Galion police officers: Timothy Johnson III, left, and Darren Patrick. Galion police Chief Brian Saterfield, far right, watches the two being sworn in on Dec. 8.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2015/12/web1_20151208_190437.jpgGalion Mayor Tom O’Leary, center, swears in two new Galion police officers: Timothy Johnson III, left, and Darren Patrick. Galion police Chief Brian Saterfield, far right, watches the two being sworn in on Dec. 8.
Adjustments made for PIO position in budget, financial recovery plan

By Brandon Klein

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