One of Oil City’s public authorities that at one time wielded considerable clout in the city is going away.
Barb Crudo, former mayor and a member of the Oil City Parking Authority, asked council at a meeting Thursday to dissolve the authority.
Noting the authority is “only an advisory group,” Crudo said she and fellow authority members Fred Weaver and Daryl Hicks intend to submit their resignations to the city. The panel, appointed by City Council, has two vacancies.
“No information comes to us … (and) there is no sense for us to serve because the city has really been running it,” said Crudo. “… It is up to council, though, to put it in mothballs.”
The city Parking Authority at one time was an active and functioning arm of the city. In concert with City Council, the authority oversaw the construction of the $1.8 million/500-space city parking ramp in the North Side business district, established free parking periods for the holidays, set limits for parking hours, decided where metered parking would go, conducted parking surveys and devised parking fees and penalties.
At Thursday’s meeting, city solicitor Bob Varsek said he would work with the authority members and the city to help dissolve the panel.
“Whatever you do, you will have our resignations in writing,” said Crudo.
Repairs are on tap
Mark Schroyer, city manager, told council an inspection by Struxures Inc., an architectural firm in Seneca, of the industrial park office building in Siverly showed an exterior brick wall has deteriorated and caused damages to the outside as well as the inside of the building.
The structure, known as the Business Incubator and located in the city’s industrial park, formerly Oilwell Supply, is partially rented for offices.
“Our goal eventually is to get out of the industrial park business,” said Schroyer, noting one building has been sold, bids are being solicited to buy another and a third party has expressed interest in acreage within the park.
The estimate to repair the damaged portion of the building was pegged at between $25,000 to $35,000.
The amount, which is included in the city’s budget for the industrial park, was low enough that an earlier inclination to raze the building was put aside, said Schroyer.
Council agreed the repairs should be made.
“With success up there (with private businesses), there may be something that comes along for that building,” council member Ron Gustafson said.
Cities working together
Mark Hicks, city fire chief, told council a joint testing session between Oil City and Franklin for part-time firefighter applicants will be held Saturday. A total of 13 applicants will take the test.
“We are looking at more ways to cooperate and share … and we have a very good working relationship (with Franklin),” said Hicks. “Our mutual aid has been fantastic.”
‘Looking pretty good’
Michelle Hoovler, city finance manager, gave a quarterly financial report to council and described the figure as “looking pretty good.”
Revenues are up over the same period last year with higher income coming from magistrate fees, earned income taxes and building permits. The latter category hit what was 50 percent of all of 2018 in just the first three months of 2019, she said, adding that overall expenses in the city budget are down compared with earlier figures.
In other business
– Council approved the hiring of Leanne Goreczny as a part-time dispatcher in the police department.
– A request from the city’s 55-plus softball program to use the Mitchell Avenue ballfields on Mondays and Wednesdays was approved.
– Mayor Bill Moon issued a proclamation honoring former Oil City resident and First Seneca Bank officer John L. Bracken on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Bracken and his wife, Cindy, donated funds to plant trees at the city swimming pool area. The proclamation lauded Bracken for “his passion and commitment to the betterment of Oil City.”
– The final reading and adoption of an ordinance setting regulations for recreational facilities within the city was accepted by council. The measure updates an existing set of guidelines and was renewed because it is required for an upcoming West End Marina enhancement.
