City adds funds for bathhouse

St. Marys City Councilors suspended the rules and passed Ordinance 2020-25, appropriating monies for deficiencies in the original Ordinance No. 2020-32 and other appropriation ordinances for the fiscal year 2020 with a couple of changes during Monday night’s meeting.

Director of Public Service and Safety Greg Foxhoven noted the changes from the 27 appropriations that came in front of the Finance Committee in last week’s meeting that totaled $301,728.00.

That number was updated to $601,728.00 for Monday’s meeting when Foxhoven told councilors the city added $300,000 to demo and build a new bathhouse at the St. Marys Aquatic Center. He said the project was originally budgeted for $500,000 out of the capital improvement fund but added that more funding was needed — bringing the new total to $800,000.

“We did budget $500,000 but we weren’t sure what kind of impact the pandemic would have on our funding and our ability to do it internally,” Foxhoven said. “

The city received seven bids for the project and would like to contract with Westerheide Construction Co., of Sidney

with Westerheide’s bid coming in at $785,000. The project is estimated at $825,000, Foxhoven said.

Foxhoven said the contractor’s completion date for the project is May 1 and the city wants to have everything complete by Memorial Day weekend in time for the pool to open.

“It will be much nicer, larger, more office space and the locker rooms are bigger,” Foxhoven added.

The second change is the $55,000 for the coronavirus relief fund.

Foxhoven noted the city was looking to set that money aside to reimburse itself for funds used during the pandemic but after receiving the number of applications for coronavirus relief from local businesses, the administration decided not to use the money for reimbursement and instead giving it to local business owners.

Manager of Industrial and Community Development Mike Burkholder

informed council that the city received 48 applications for the city’s grant program targeted at helping local small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Under terms of the program, businesses could be eligible for up to a $10,000 grant if they meet certain criteria. As part of the CARES Act and Ohio House Bill 481, the city of St. Marys is set to receive $359,610.95 in funding that can be used, in part, to help those affected by the pandemic.

To qualify for the grant program, businesses must: be locally owned and operated in the city, demonstrate a negative impact and revenue loss of 10% or more as a result of COVID-19, have fewer than 50 fulltime equivalent employees, be current on all state, federal and local taxes and have an annual gross receipts of less than $2 million.

Checks will be sent out to those businesses by the end of the week, according to Foxhoven.

In other business on Monday, council:

• Heard the first reading of Ordinance 202006, amending Sections 505.09 and 505.13 of the codified ordinances. The amendments address barking dogs within city limits and the amount of a permit to have animals, such as livestock, within city limits except for dogs and cats.

Section 505.09 previously stated the maximum penalty for barking, howling or yelping dogs that causes unreasonably loud and disturbing noises is a minor misdemeanor and a fine of up to $150, no matter how often a residence is called. The amendment changes that penalty.

For every subsequent offense committed, the penalty will be increased. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on a second offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, on each subsequent offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

The amendment to Section 505.13 increases the amount for a permit from $1 to $20 to keep livestock, such as sheep, horses, mules, chickens, cattle and other farm animals. The section has not been updated in more than 50 years.

• Suspended the rules and passed Resolutions 2020-17, 18 and 19 — authorizing demolition assessment for properties at 600 Jay St. and 216 Beech St. 2020-19, authorizing nuisance abatement assessment stems from a property located at 236 Lynn St.

• Heard the first reading of Resolution 202020, naming Mill Park in the city of St. Marys. The park is located on the grounds of the reservoir mill and two parcels west where High Street shelter house and the St. Marys Community Splash Pad are located.

• Heard from Foxhoven that the miniature golf course at K.C. Geiger Park and the St. Marys Community Splash Pad are both closed for the season.