By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Bucyrus City Council revisited an ongoing issue that just doesn’t seem to go away and learned of a new one it will have to address by the end of the month.
Although absent at Tuesday’s regular meeting, council member Wanda Sharrock’s letter of resignation of her at-large seat was read by Council President Sis Love. In the letter, Sharrock wrote several issues required her full attention making it impossible for her to meet the expectations of the City Council position.
Sharrock’s resignation will go into effect at the end of the month at which time City Council will go through the process of appointing a temporary replacement. All City Council seats will be on the ballot in the November General Election this year.
The issue of outdoor alcohol consumption in the downtown business district was once again brought in front of council members, this time by Natalie Norman of Norman’s Niche.
“I do not allow my clientele` to get rowdy,” Norman said matter-of-factly. “I just don’t put up with problems.”
Norman encouraged City Council to consider several limitations in terms of hours the activity might be permitted, and others, if on nothing else than a trial basis. She also noted that she has been contacted by other communities she says offered a welcome to her should Bucyrus not try to accommodate her.
“We want Bucyrus to be a destination,” Norman stated emphatically. “We need the downtown business to grow.”
Bucyrus Law Director Rob Ratliff, at the urging of Love, then outlined a new state law that goes into effect April 30. Ratliff referred to the law as DORA which stands for Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas.
A DORA will be permitted in communities of 35,000 people or less and must be 150 acres or less in size. The only other restriction according to Ratliff is that a minimum of four businesses with state liquor licenses must be involved. Other than that the city can make its own rules.
Council member Bill O’Rourke, who was an outspoken opponent of outside dining and likewise outdoor alcohol consumption downtown, asked Mayor Jeff Reser if the administration was in favor of DORA and outdoor consumption.
When the mayor replied affirmatively, O’Rourke then inquired as to the cost of clean-up and providing restroom facilities and further who was going to pay for it.
Norman said the councilman needed to give the public more credit than she thinks he is.
“We are more responsible than you make us out to be,” Norman said.
Several people spoke in support of Norman including former director of the Bucyrus Tourism and Visitors Bureau Barb Glowaski and her husband Brian.
“It is important for us to support the new businesses,” Barb Glowaski said.
In his turn at the podium, Brian Glowaski said, “I wish this would become a town of doers and not don’ters (sic).”
Another Bucyrus business owner, Kurt Fankhauser, said it was important that City Council move quickly to address the issue. Fankhauser said he has watched council move on other issues. “Sometimes it seems like a turtle going in the wrong direction.”
The issue will be discussed again on Thursday in committee.
Also to be addressed Thursday will be the possibility of turning over pursuit of delinquent city income taxes to Capital Recovery from Columbus. Alex Gregory of that organization explained the process his firm would take in pursuing overdue taxes owed the city.
Rather than charge the city a fee, Gregory stated there would be a 33-percent penalty added to any outstanding taxes or filing fees owed. Capital Recovery would then receive approximately 25 percent with the balance going to the city.
Ratliff explained it would save the city in manpower and money it is currently expending to serve warrants and prosecute tax cases. It would, he added, also save money for the majority of those the city currently prosecutes. Ratliff said 33 percent in most cases is less expensive than court fees that are assessed.
Legislatively, City Council passed two ordinances – one for an appropriation for Safety Town and the other for required street closures for the Hope over Heroin event June 22-25. Both measures passed unanimously.