LIMA — Lima City Council met on Monday evening to approve various ordinances on the agenda. The council approved the monetary donation of $4,000 from Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center to the mayor for the Parks and Recreation program. Ric Stolly, the Deputy Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry said the department will use the funding for the Summer Playground Program. According to the city’s website, the program involves a range of activities including chess, baseball, basketball and volleyball.
“We invite our associates to dress down on Fridays; in return, they make a small donation,” Mercy Health Director of Government and Community Affairs Beth Keen said. “This year we are using the $4,000 to give to the Lima City Parks program and our theme was youth development. The program is one of our most critical in the city. It keeps kids engaged, active and ready to go back to school when summer is over.”
Keen also said the funding will be used to purchase a Gaga ball pit.
“It is kind of like a four square but can be used for all ages,” Keen said. “You do not have to be a star athlete to participate so it allows everyone to be active.”
The council also approved an ordinance to approve funding from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force. According to the communications letter, the donation totals $9,316.
The City Council meeting fell on the anniversary of 9/11. Councilors weighed in on how they remembered the day many will never forget.
“That is the day our lives changed and America changed,” Carla Thompson said. “I hope that we do a good job of educating our youth about sacrifice and what it means to an American. We had a lot of lessons that we learned on that day.”
Seventh Ward Council Member Jon Neeper and Fifth Ward Council Member Jamie Dixon shared the statistics of how many lives were lost and the impacts since the attack.
“In one single moment life may never be the same,” Seventh Ward Council Member Jon Neeper said. “We need to remember 9/11 but we also need to remember 9/12. Everyone paused and helped each other. We need to get back to that.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
