Tiffin firefighter/paramedic Chris Hafley spoke during a Tiffin City Council Monday evening.
After accepting an award from Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz on behalf the entire fire department for National Emergency Medical Services Week, Hafley gave an update on the Tiffin Police and Fire All Patriots Memorial.
"I want to thank all those who protect us on a daily basis," Montz said.
The memorial is to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and will be located at North Washington and Water streets, the former site of the Firestone building.
"After the Memorial Day Parade, we are going to move the public to the site to do a groundbreaking," Hafley said. "The project is moving forward at a very fast pace."
He said the All Patriots Memorial Committee is in its 14th week of fundraising.
"Citizens, organizations and businesses gave $104,000 toward the memorial," Hafley said. "$125,000 was our goal.
Hafley said the completion date is Sept. 11.
"In April, we ordered 21,000 pounds of granite," Hafley.
Architectural drawings for the memorial were submitted to the New York-New Jersey Port Authority in March and are to be
included a book of all monuments and memorials that include steel from the World Trade Center, Hafley said.
"That book will be sold at the 9/11 Memorial in New York to help raise funds for (survivors of) the deceased," he said.
Montz said there will be a handicapped-accessible bikeway connecting Schekelhoff Park to Nature Trails Park to Frost Parkway.
"This will be the first step to creating a citywide biking and walking path for residents to enjoy," Montz said.
Public Works dispatcher Barb Hartzell has announced her retirement June 30, Montz said.
Tiffin City Council President Paul Elchert also said he will not be seeking another term in office.
In other business, council approved:
A resolution approving the mayor's appointment of Janet Dell Freeman to fill an unexpired term on the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission until the end of 2014.
An ordinance renewing eligibility of part-time employees and appointees to salaried part-time boards for health insurance .
An ordinance authorizing the city administrator to prepare plans and specifications, advertise for and receive bids and recommend and execute contracts for the 2012 Street Paving Program and declaring an emergency.
An ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign all agreements and other documents to receive federal funding for the Sarah Street, SR 18 and SR 101 near Heidelberg University Project and declaring an emergency.
