BUCYRUS — Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser presented his State of the City Address to council and the public during the Bucyrus City Council meeting Tuesday evening.
After thanking voters for his re-election, Reser recognized several citizens who play a vital role in making the community a better place, including Santana Stamper, a certified peer recover supporter for Operation Hope through the Bucyrus Police Department.
“You may not have heard of Operation Hope, but it plays a vital role in our community and is often the last line of defense for someone in distress. That person could be homeless or have drug addiction issues or simply need someone to talk to who cares and that person is Santana Stamper,” Reser said. “She is on call 24 hours a day and does the work that most of us could not do.”
He also recognized Bucyrus Police Officer Jamie Carver who was injured in a fall from an attic last November while apprehending a murder suspect in Galion.
“His recovery has been painful and slow, but we are hopeful that Officer Carver will be returning to protect us as soon as his back heals,” Reser said of Carver who suffered two broken vertebrae in the fall.
He also recognized acting Bucyrus Fire Capt. Chad Schwemley, who is acting as chief, and Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke for the work they do to protect the citizens of the city.
In looking ahead, Reser said the city has many projects on the agenda for 2020 and beyond including emergency medical services.
“We will have to make a decision soon on whether we will continue to be part of the ambulance district, start a new district or do it ourselves,” Reser said.
He also said the administration is focusing on expanding water service outside the city and recently reached out to Stetzer Road residents about the possibility of expansion in that area. Reser is also focused on the bicentennial celebration that will occur in 2021 to promote the city and its heritage.
During council proceedings, a resolution to transfer ownership of city parking lot number two, located at 220 N. Sandusky Ave., to the Bucyrus Community Improvement Corporation to facilitate a sale of the property to Baker’s Pizza was kept to a first reading.
Council president Kurt Fankhauser said the issue is not an emergency and should not be voted on as such. Reser said the point of passing it as an emergency would be to allow the owners of Baker’s Pizza to complete work to the parking lot in the springtime and to help facilitate the growth of a thriving local business.
Council member James Mee was the only council member to vote not to waive the rules and vote on the issue as an emergency and with the absence for medical reasons of Bruce Truka, the motion failed, and the resolution had to be kept to a first reading.
A resolution to allow Bucyrus to be part of a state opioid court settlement was approved as an emergency as was an engineering contract for the Pines Reservoir. An ordinance for the rezoning of properties at 1815 and 1825 E. Mansfield St. was approved on the third reading. A resolution for material bids had its second reading.
Koepke gave his annual report to council and said crime is down in the city as well as the county. Council also appointed Kathleen Fixed to the Bucyrus public library board.
Reser said an issue with a building at Aumiller Park that is in a floodplain zone is being worked on with FEMA and the city’s law director recently received an elevation certificate to be presented to FEMA officials.
The meeting will be later this month between the city administration and FEMA to work out the issue. Reser also said that the creation of a bike path will be starting this month at Aumiller Park near the Friendship Bridge to West Southern Avenue.
Council’s next meeting is March 17 at 7 p.m. and council’s joint committee meeting is Thursday at 6 p.m. at Bucyrus City Hall.