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| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: February 4, 2013 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 | ||
2013 BUDGET: Columbus City Councilmembers will tonight consider final passage of the 2013 General Fund Budget. Finance Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring a series of ordinances, 2630-2012, 2631-2012, 2633-2012, and 2644-2012, that Councilmembers will vote on in order to approve the budget. Amendments made to Mayor Coleman’s proposed budget reflect City Council’s priority of strengthening Columbus neighborhoods through economic development and job creation. Council President Ginther and Councilmember Tyson announced last month that Councilmembers have agreed to set aside $3 million of the $7.5 million carryover from 2012 for Columbus’ Economic Stabilization Fund, or rainy day fund.
REC CENTER IMPROVEMENTS: The Blackburn Recreation Center provides a wide range of activities for children and adults. Serving the Near East Side, Blackburn is in line for upgrades to the facility that include work on the electrical system, HVAC, plumbing, floors and other work to ensure that the building serves the community for many years to come. Recreation and Parks Committee chair Zach M. Klein is sponsoring ordinance 0145-2013 to approve an $853,000 contract with Builderscape, Inc. to perform the work.
PROTECTING THE WATER SUPPLY: The Dublin Road Water Plant processes some 80 million gallons of water a day, providing safe, clean drinking water to many Columbus residents and businesses. The plant has not seen a significant renovation in 30 years. Ordinance 0052-2013, sponsored by Public Utilities Committee chair Eileen Y. Paley, allows for the City to enter into a $22,001,320 contract with Kokosing Construction Company for the construction of a new electrical substation, sludge pump station, and other modifications to the Dublin Road facility. The project will improve the reliability and capacity of the plant.
FIGHTING BAD CHECKS: When someone passes a bad check, it does not just affect the business involved in the transaction, but all consumers who end up paying more for products to offset the loss for the merchant. Ordinance 0136x-2013, sponsored by Public Safety and Judiciary Committee chair Michelle M. Mills, authorizes the appropriation of $40,000 from the Bad Checks Fund to pay for this program in 2013. The Bad Checks Program is designed to reduce the number of bad check cases that backlog the court and to help local merchants recover the money they are owed. Staff works directly with the merchant and the check writer to resolve the matter and therefore keep the case out of the court system. In 2012 approximately 17,465 criminal complaints were diverted from the court system and approximately $364,571 was recovered for the merchants. The Bad Checks Diversion Program is funded from collected fees.
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JOHN IVANIC
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
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90 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Direct: 614-645-6798
Cell: 614-701-1411
