North Canton City Council members met Monday night and wished law director Hans Nilges goodbye as he prepares for his last day on the job this month and discussed a $10,000 occupancy grant for a public relations company.

Here are some other news items from the meeting that night:

• Ben Wheeler, executive director of the North Canton YMCA, stopped by to report the success of the 35th annual July 4 Race. The race brought in more than 3,000 runners, topping last year's record of 2,452. Wheeler also thanked the North Canton Police Department, city council and city administration for making the race possible.

• Council also heard from M. J. Albacete, executive director of the Canton Museum of Art. Albacete said the "Celebration of the Arts" program at the North Canton Civic Center also was a success, thanks to a Council-approved $5,000 grant that allowed several exhibits, workshops and concerts to take place at the venue as part of the GeoArt program. North Canton students and other community members attended the recycling-based program, which featured the Canton Ballet, a presentation about King Tut and the Canton Symphony Brass Quintet. "Thank you for that grant, and if you wish to think about another one for the future, we promise to deliver again — even bigger," Albacete said.

• Council had tabled on June 25 an ordinance regarding the Fairways Golf Course lease agreement between the city and R & S Golf Properties, Inc. Council chose to leave the ordinance on the table Monday night. Council President John Snyder said the ordinance clarifies language in the lease agreement, which says the property owners may use the North Canton Civic Center (in its entirety) as part of the lease. The agreement should say the property owners may use the center's gazebo only. Snyder said Law Director Hans Nilges may negotiate with the property owners, or Nilges' replacement will. (Nilges resigns this month as law director.)

• Council adopted a resolution regarding the renewal of a 1.5-mill EMS levy that would expire Dec. 31 of this year. The current levy is a two-year levy, while the renewal levy is for five years and would keep up the level of service for North Canton EMS. The levy will appear on the November ballot.

• Council left on the table an ordinance that would dictate how long business owners would have to clean graffiti off of their buildings before they're cited by the city. Council-at-large Dan Griffith said he expects the ordinance to move forward when council returns from its summer break.

• Council announced it will begin its summer break now and pick up with its next meeting Aug. 20.