By Krystal Smalley
news@wbcowqel.com
The words “believe in Bucyrus,” a battle cry revived by the late Mayor Roger Moore, were at the heart of current Mayor Jeff Reser’s State of the City address Tuesday night.
Reser believed a strong team was in place to lead the city throughout 2015, a year he said was monumental for the city and one that ended with a small surplus in the general fund.
Highlights of the previous year included breaking ground for the new water treatment plant, just the third such plant in the city’s history. Reser noted that they will not have to raise the water rates as much as originally planned due to low interest rates and lower-than-expected construction bids. Those boons will lead to an even bigger one: the city expects to save over $10 million over the repayment period of the loan. Reser said they will meet in May to review the projected costs and rate increases to create an up-to-date financial plan.
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He also pointed to the agreement the city made with the U.S. EPA late in 2015 that would allow the city to separate its storm and sewer water over a longer period than was anticipated. Though sewer rates were raised over the summer, Reser added that they were lower than predicted a few years before.
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Reser highlighted the fact that the police and fire departments operated at full staff in 2015 due to the help of the safety forces levy, the establishing of a county land bank, funding economic development in Bucyrus, and becoming home to an institute of higher learning with the Crawford Success Center. He also recognized community members and organizations for their continued support and the opening of businesses such as Trillium Event Center and Pickwick Place.
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“As elected officials, we have to be more than cheerleaders,” Reser said. “We have to lead Bucyrus through good times and bad, meeting the needs of our residents, always with an eye to the future. I believe that we will be able to look back on 2015 as an important year, that practical buildings blocks have been put in place that will improve the lives of our residents thus improving our community.”
Law Director Rob Ratliff announced the newest person named “Bucyrus’ Most Wanted.” Jessica Harper is currently wanted for failure to appear for an OVI hearing in Crawford County and passing bad checks in Wyandot County. Anyone with information on Harper’s whereabouts can contact the Bucyrus Police Department’s tip line at 419-834-2023.
Council members Steve Pifer and Dan Wirebaugh questioned why the city would be paying for a new fence at Lion’s Field after Auditor Joyce Schifer referred a $39,000 appropriation to the Finance Committee.
“I’m not sure. Would you do the same thing for the Little League?” Wirebaugh asked as he pointed out that the program paid for everything at the diamonds in Aumiller Park.
“It’s been going on 60 years and we haven’t touched it,” Service/Safety Director Jeff Wagner replied. He added that the city had mowed the fields for over 30 years and paid for the lights.
“We’ve got 30 to 40 years to worry about it (the Little League fields),” Reser added. He also believed the city should have to pay for the upkeep of one of its parks.
“There’s no way we could fix it? It’s a chain link fence,” Pifer said.
“Steve, it’s 50 years old,” Reser answered.
The matter was put into the Finance Committee for discussion on Thursday.
Sarah Carman provided a presentation on OhioCAN Peer-to-Peer Family Support to the city council. The group helps to educate and empower families and communities that have been impacted by drug use. Carman said she will be hosting a Family Peer-to-Peer group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bucyrus Public Library. An additional meeting will be held on March 16. Meetings will be held twice a month after that. To find out more, contact Carman at 240-565-4519.
Five pieces of legislation were passed during the meeting, including changes to the security section in the council rules, the 2016 mill and pave project, a retroactive agreement with the Bucyrus Tourism and Visitors Bureau regarding the bed tax, and acceptance of the Solid Waste Management plan update. A resolution also supported a zoning modification that reduced parking requirements in the city’s zoning code.