Galion’s Economic Development and Airport Committee held its monthly meeting May 16.

Attendees at the meeting included Mayor Tom O’Leary, along with Galion City Council members Melissa Frank, Mike Richart and Carl Watt.

After approving the April meeting minutes and current agenda, members got to work.

New housing updates occurred, including information on Carter Crossing developers, about which O’Leary said Galion maintains a good working relationship.

Frank expressed concern with increased traffic through Heise Park and congestion on the city’s east side, due to additional development.

The committee eventually moved on to dealing with dilapidated homes in the area. The mayor led an extensive discussion with background information on certain homes and who exactly owns them. O’Leary said it’s an ongoing issue with smaller Ohio towns that have limited resources.

“It’s important that this is discussed, so that at least citizens that are concerned know there are other issues behind the scenes as to why some of these homes are there,” Frank said.

O’Leary said zoning codes could be reviewed due to various issues and some regulatory actions can occur to target certain neighborhoods.

The meeting concluded with an update on potential business development and discourse about beautifying Uptowne to make the main streets more attractive for the summer season, including more planters.

O’Leary said coordination is needed and added that the “consensus is that things can be more attractive”; he also claimed there’s sometimes a gap in communication.

He said visitors to the city continue to be impressed by Galion.

A.J. Kaufman is a correspondent for the Galion Inquirer.