Council authorizes CARES grant program
It was a night to pass ordinances Monday, when Wapakoneta City Council members adopted four pieces of legislation including two that have recently made headlines.
Councilors established the “City of Wapakoneta CARES Small Business Grant Program,” using CARES ACT dollars to authorize grants for local small businesses. Much like the Auglaize County grant program, the city has targeted small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. To qualify, businesses must be locally owned and operated in the city, demonstrate the revenue loss of 10 percent or more due to COVID-19, have fewer than 50 full-time employees, be current on all taxes and have gross receipts of less than $2 million.
Applications can be found on the city’s website and must be returned to the city by 4 p.m. on Sept. 28. The city’s finance committee will meet Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. to review the applications and award the grant funds.
Councilors also adopted the DORA legislation, creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in and around the downtown district. The ordinance also establishes the rules and regulations for the DORA.
The Lodging Tax Committee met earlier on Monday and authorized a $1,550 grant for DORA organizers to use to purchase signage that defines the area, and $50 for stickers on the DORA cups that must be used to consume alcoholic beverages outdoors and in designated establishments. The original request was for $3,250; those dollars would have also funded window clings and social media advertising.
Also adopted Monday night was the resolution accepting the amounts and rates for tax levies, and an ordinance making supplemental appropriations.
Councilors spent the most time discussing the proposed apartment complex north of Auglaize Acres. Ross Kantner said he’d received a number comments regarding the discussion held during the Sept. 7 council meeting — comments that indicated council may have seemed dismissive of residents’ concerns about the project.
Kantner said Council President Steve Henderson was adamant that this issue wasn’t on the city’s agenda at this point; however,
Kantner wanted to know when it would be appropriate to hear concerns from constituents.
Henderson repeated at this point the project is on the desk of the county commissioners and the city “doesn’t have a dog in this fight.”
Kantner said it concerned him that the city has not been able to inform its citizens about this proposed project.
Chad Doll said there’s a reason the city hasn’t made a comment.
“Nothing has come across our plate yet,” he said. “I’ve seen the newspaper article, I’ve read the emails but have nothing from Mr. Kennedy…i can’t share what I don’t have.”
Kantner referenced the Wapakoneta Area Economic Development Council, noting as a new councilor he’s not up to speed on their involvement. Henderson was quick to say WAEDC isn’t involved either.
“The city’s not for or against it; WAEDC is not for or against it,” he said. “Right now it’s on the desk of our three county commissioners.”
Councilman Terry Campbell suggested those with questions reach out to Nick Kennedy, the president of Flexarm who proposed the housing complex in light of the local housing shortage. Campbell said he had spoken with someone who had an email exchange with Kennedy that answered all her concerns.
ALSO ON MONDAY, council: * Authorized an electric hook up for a house being constructed at 16622 Wapakoneta-cridersville Road at the request of Michael Short;
* Heard the first reading of an ordinance that would vacate a north-south alley east of Dearbaugh between Fairview and an unimproved section of South Street; a public hearing on the alley vacation was set for Nov. 7 at 7:15 p.m.
* Learned a request to install a crosswalk at or near the intersection of Hamilton and Barbara Lane was assigned to the Streets and Alleys Committee;
* Learned the Parks and Rivers Committee will meet Monday at 8 p.m. at city hall.
Council meets again Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom and broadcast on the city’s Facebook page.