ThisWeek CW 12/24/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/12/21/city-will-fund-more-than-11000-in-bed-tax-grants.html

Canal Winchester officials are once again considering how to divide bed-tax grant funds among local organizations.

Out of $17,000 in requests, Canal Winchester City Council was expected to approve grants totaling $11,825 at its Dec. 21 meeting.

Council provides upwards of $20,000 total in grants each year to groups that apply prior to the November deadline. An additional $30,000 per year is granted to Destination: Canal Winchester, which acts as the city’s convention and visitors bureau.

Council members provided initial feedback at their Dec. 7 meeting to city Finance Director Amanda Jackson regarding how much funding they would be willing to give each of the 12 groups that filed applications and under what conditions.

The American Cancer Society, which oversees the city’s Relay For Life event for cancer awareness, requested $2,500 — the same amount it was awarded in 2014.

However, in 2015, council chose to limit each individual request to a maximum of $2,000 with a stipulation that a report be provided to the city detailing how the funds were spent, and the return of any unspent funds.

As of the Dec. 7 meeting, the American Cancer Society had yet to submit its 2015 report.

Council agreed to fund the request at the maximum of $2,000 as long as the required report and any refund due is provided first.

The Canal Winchester Alumni Scholarship Association requested $500 to help host its annual Labor Day 5K fundraiser.

Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon said she was “disappointed they held the 5K at Blendon Woods last year instead of in Canal Winchester.”

Other council members agreed, stating they would support funding the full $500 only if the event returns to Canal Winchester.

The Canal Winchester Art Guild applied for two separate grants: $500 for the annual Art Stroll and $1,000 for the group’s second annual downtown mural project. Council approved both of these amounts without question.

Similarly, the Canal Winchester High School After Prom Committee will receive its full $2,000 request.

“As an old principal trying to keep the kids there at prom and the after party so they aren’t out drinking and driving, I think I’m all for it,” Councilman Steve Donahue said.

The Canal Winchester-Groveport Area Rotary Club made two project requests: $675 for the annual dictionary distribution to third-graders and $1,325 for another Harlem Wizards basketball fundraiser.

Council opted to provide the group with a total of $1,325 which members stipulated must be used for one of the projects. It will be up to the Rotary Club to decide which project to fund.

Mershon pointed out that the Canal Winchester Human Services and Community Food Pantry request included multiple projects in one application instead of being broken into individual applications. She noted that rules require separate applications for each request.

“They can submit up to three applications for three projects,” Mershon said. “Other than just not considering any of the four on here, I suggest we just give them $1,500 for the Football for Food project.”

The original request had been for a total of $2,000 for the Souper Bowl, Pack the Pantry, Football for Food and Pizza for Food.

Donahue argued that these are all related events but ultimately, all of the council members agreed to the $1,500 grant.

The Canal Winchester Senior Citizens Club once again requested $1,500 for its Veterans Day celebration which council agreed to fully fund.

Faith United Methodist Church submitted a request for $2,000 to help pay for a new organ. Council members felt that this crossed the line between church and state and opted to deny the application.

Similarly, council denied a request from Kathy Binner for $2,000 to update rooms in a bed-and-breakfast she wants to operate.

“She’s not open as a B&B yet, so it would be like asking us for money to upgrade your living room at this point,” Donahue said.

Finally, council approved a full $1,000 grant request from the Friends for Life Animal Haven to trap and neuter stray dogs and cats in the city.

“They come into our city and capture feral cats and spay or neuter them and that is helpful to us,” Councilwoman Marilyn Rush-Ekelberry said.