BUCYRUS — Several local residents came to the Bucyrus City Council Public Lands and Building Committee meeting Monday evening to discuss the fate of the city Reservoir No. 2, also called the Pines Reservoir.
Mike and Bertha Hetzel have lived next door to the dam-style reservoir on Stetzer Road for decades.
“We have eagles come into our yard and all kinds of animals,” Bertha Hetzel said. “We live on our back porch, so we can watch all of the animals.”
Mike Hetzel said the reservoir is a water source and a food source for the animals.
The couple wants to know what will happen to the wildlife if the reservoir is drained, which is one option on the table for the city.
The reservoir no longer is an active city reservoir and the dam at the reservoir is in need of repair soon, according to Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser.
The city recently was issued a chief’s order by officials of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in November due to the danger of the reservoir failing and needing major repairs.
“The city’s options are to sell it, drain it or repair it,” Reser said.
Bucyrus City Council president Sis Love said local attorney Pat Murphy wants to take ownership of the reservoir and will assume liability and the cost to bring the reservoir up to the standards set forth by ODNR.
Bucyrus resident Kathy Fuller said she would like to see a committee formed to save the reservoir.
“Maybe it’s not going to cost $1 million, maybe you need a second opinion,” Fuller said about the only figures provided to the city being given to officials by the city’s engineering firm, Brandstetter Carroll.
Reser said city law director Rob Ratliff is the only city official to have met directly with officials from ODNR when he recently attended a meeting with Murphy to present Murphy’s plan of action for the reservoir.
“I am totally against the city giving away the reservoir,” Fuller said. “That is a lot of land and a lot of water.”
Dan Wirebaugh, chair of the public lands and building committee, said money would have to be borrowed to repair the reservoir, which may cost as much as $1 million and would be more money levied to city residents on their utility bills while still paying off the new water treatment plant.
Love said previous generations did not address the issues at the reservoir before they became so costly.
“There were generations that paid 15- to 20-percent interest on the loan used to build the Outhwaite Reservoir and that kept us hog-tied for about 20 years to get that paid off. Those loans could not be re-negotiated,” Love said.
Ratliff said the city only has until October to come up with a plan and has appealed the chief’s order by ODNR.
“We have a hearing with ODNR on Oct. 17,” Ratliff said. “We need to have a plan by then.”
Bucyrus resident Ray Thitoff asked why city officials always wait until a deadline is looming to deal with issues.
“We have been working on this for two years,” Reser said.
Love also said the city currently is following a federal mandate for the storm-sewer separation project.
“In the 1980s, it was on the ballot twice to take care of that, but the citizens said no, so nothing was done,” Love said. “These are the things that got us where we are. Money has been tied up or the citizens said no. The EPA did not give us a choice with the storm water project.”
She said water is being offered to county residents and will help pay off the loan sooner.
Bucyrus resident William Stuckert is concerned Murphy is going to privatize the reservoir.
“People will have to pay to go there,” Stuckert said.
Fuller said she would like to see a committee formed to try to save the reservoir and keep it public. She suggested that donations could be received to fund the necessary repairs to bring it in to compliance.
“Maybe Pat Murphy would lead the committee since he has knowledge about the reservoir and what needs to be done,” Fuller said.
Wirebaugh said his committee is still considering all options before creating legislation to move in one direction or another.