Galion City Schools is pondering the purchase of 17.6 acres of land just south and west of the current school campus.
The land would be used to build a new bus garage and a multi-use facility that would include an all-weather track and grass fields that could be used for many things, including the high school soccer teams and marching band.
And district administrators and school board members want to know what residents and voters think of the proposal before planning goes any further.
Let your opinions be heard at tonight’s school board meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the computer lab at Galion Middle School.
Galion Superintendent Jim Grubbs said Wednesday there has been some preliminary discussion about the land acquisition and pending public support, a sale may be able to be worked out within a relatively short time. He said the district has money available to handle the property purchase.
But he needs to know if the public will support such a project.
So folks, here is your chance to let your opinions be heard.
The meeting starts at 6:30 this evening in the computer lab at Galion Middle School.
If you think think the idea is a good one, come to the meeting to voice your support.
If you think it is not a valid idea, come to the meeting and let board members know what you think.
Make your opinions know at 6:30 p.m., in the computer lab at Galion Middle School.
Grubbs said if there is public support, he will take his recommendation to board members and if they agree, the district will take steps to purchase the land, which will be acquired as two separate parcels.
The smaller parcel, approximately 2.3 acres south of the middle school, directly next to the parking lot, would be the site of a new bus garage and maintenance facility for the district. The current bus garage is about two miles away, at the corner of Knorr Road and Edwards Street.
The second parcel, about 15.3 acres, is directly west of the Middle School. If the district acquires this property, it would be developed as a multi-use facility that would benefit students academically and athletically. This parcel would be developed as a multi-use facility that could be used for many things, such as marching band practice, fields for Galion High School sports teams, including the boys and girls soccer teams, and a regulation all-weather oval track.
Grubbs says the school district has no plans to push for a connector road between Heise Park Lane and Highland Avenue to be built. In fact, he says, because of safety concerns due to a future increase in traffic, he prefers that road does not come to fruition.
In fact, student safety is a big part of the idea behind the proposal. He says the fact students are constantly having to walk or bike or drive on or across Ohio 598, usually during the time of day when traffic is the heaviest, is a huge concern.
A preliminary estimate of bus garage designs is about $600,000, Grubbs said. He estimates the money saved by the district in terms of travel expenses and time incurred by maintenance personnel driving back and forth to the current garage would be about $60,000 annually. So in that respect, the new bus garage could pay for itself in about 10 years. He estimates it would also result in basically another maintenance man for the district due to the man-hours used now going back and forth to the Knorr Road facility.
Funding for the multi-purpose facility is a different story.
Money would need to be raised. That plan has not been developed, but Grubbs envisions a partnership of private and corporate donations along with a minimal school levy that would be in effect for perhaps 10 years.
He’s unsure of the cost of that project. But he said any land acquisition should be contingent on soil tests and surveys to make certain the ground can be used for what it’s intended to be used for.
The reason a new track is desirable is because the current track is not regulation size, and enlarging it to meet Ohio High School Athletic Association standards in order to host sectional, district or regional track meets, is cost prohibitive, Grubbs said. It would require relocation of fences, bleachers, a visitor’s pressbox, and possibly a concession stand and the visitor lockerroom adjacent to Heise Park Lane. Plus, he expects high school soccer to grow in participation and population in the coming years, so a permanent facility for those teams will become a necessity.
And, if a new track oval is built, he envisions the current track being maintained for public use. He realizes the soft all-weather track is a favorite place for walkers and runners. The football stadium will of course still be used.
Grubbs describes himself as a business man and he said this proposal makes good business sense, if for no other reason than to gain control over what actually happens with real estate adjacent to the current campus.
He’s unsure of the tenor the community will have for the proposal. He says the few comments he’s heard are positive. But he wants a larger sample of public opinion.
Again, the school board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be in the computer science lab. If you want to give an opinion — one way or another — this is the perfect time to do it, before any permanent plans and decisions are made.
If you have questions, would like to view aerial photographs of the proposed parcels of land the district would like to purchase or are unable to attend the public forum, please visit www.galionschools.org or call 419-468- 3432.
The Galion Inquirer will be at the today’s meeting and will post additional information as it becomes available.
We welcome your comments on our website, on social media, including the Galion Inquirer’s Facebook page. We also welcome letters to the editor on all subjects.
