GALION — Galion City Council has approved a resolution of support for the proposed Freese Center athletic complex, albeit by a slim margin.

Council voted 4-3 in favor of an amended version of Resolution No. 2021-15 during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Council Member Mike Richart, 3rd Ward, made the proposal to amend the resolution, adding language to Section 1 of the measure. Prior to the amendment, Section 1 in its original form read as follows: “The City Council herein expresses its strong support for the proposed Freese Center capital improvement project, and for a request of Five Million and No/100 Dollars ($5,000,000) from the Egbert M. Freese Foundation for that purpose, based on the conditions set forth in Sections 2 through 4 below.”

Richart’s motion to amend the resolution changed the wording as follows [changes in brackets]: “The City Council herein expresses its strong support for the proposed Freese Center capital improvement project, and for a [proposed] request of Five Million and No/100 Dollars ($5,000,000) from the Egbert M. Freese Foundation for the purpose, [subject to future Council action], based on the conditions set forth in Sections 2 through 4 below.”

Richart said he proposed the amended language in order to help clarify the purpose of the resolution for Galion residents.

Council voted 7-0 to approve Richart’s proposal to amend Resolution No. 2021-15.

Law Director Thomas Palmer said Richart’s proposal did not change the general intent of the resolution when asked about that issue by Council Member Aaron Ivy, 2nd Ward.

“As to determine the legality of it, you read it just as an English major would read that,” Palmer said. “What you’re doing here is expressing strong support for the project and strong support for a request. It’s not making a request. I think that this does suggest that future council action is necessary as it’s currently written, but what Mr. Richart’s suggesting certainly does not change the intent at all, as it currently is. … I would say this, I think that the proposed amendment makes it clearer that it is a future action that will be required of Council.”

Palmer did note that City Council could, at a future time, vote to reverse or revise any action it takes on any ordinance or resolution.

Council’s October meeting schedule

Following is the October meeting schedule for Galion City Council:

Tuesday, Oct. 5 — Laws, Ordinances, Zoning, and Permits Committee, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 6 — Utilities Committee, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 12 — Regular Council Meeting, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 13 — Parks and Recreation Committee, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 14 — Streets, Alleys, Screens, and Bridges Committee, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 19 — Economic Development and Airport Committee, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 20 — Finance Committee, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 21 — Police, Fire, and Health Committee, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 26 — Regular Council Meeting, 7 p.m.

All meetings are held in Council Chambers at the Galion Municipal Buidling, 301 Harding Way East. The meetings are livestreamed on The City of Galion Facebook page. For information about Galion City Council, contact the council clerk at 419-468-9557 or go to galion.city.