BUCYRUS — Prior to Bucyrus City Council Joint Committee’s online meeting Thursday evening, council met as a whole and approved to amend a proclamation by Mayor Jeff Reser to declare a civil emergency in Bucyrus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proclamation reiterates the Ohio Dept. of Health’s Stay-at-Home Order and social distancing orders under Gov. Mike DeWine’s state of emergency order and President Donald Trump’s National Emergency Order.
Reser requests that all residents follow the state, federal and local rules to follow the stay-at-home order to decrease the numbers of people becoming infected with the coronavirus.
The amendment was needed to allow city public meetings to occur online as regular meetings throughout the duration of the pandemic.
Bucyrus resident Vicki Dishon was the only resident to speak during the online meeting of the Bucyrus City Council Joint Committee.
Dishon quoted a council rule governing the reading of all letters during a council meeting except for letters sent anonymously. She stated during the council meeting Tuesday evening her letter regarding council procedures was not read during the March 3 council meeting.
She said Council President Kurt Fankhauser told her that since her letter was read during council’s Ad Hoc committee meeting regarding council rules and procedures it did not have to be read again at the regular meeting.
Fankhauser said all Dishon’s suggestions were adopted by the council.
“I don’t think the council president should be able to pick and choose which letters from residents are read during the council meetings and which are not,” Dishon said.
The platting committee approved legislation to be voted upon by council at the next regular meeting for the 2020 mill-and-pave schedule as an emergency then entered into a lengthy discussion on the rezoning of properties at 1725, 1675 and 1955 Hopley Ave. near Ohio Mutual Insurance Group. The public hearing will be June 8 at 6 p.m. online if the stay-at-home order is still in place. Residents who live in the area also may submit letters expressing their opposition or approval of the rezoning of the area from residential to a business district to build a gym for employees.
“The buildings in the area were grandfathered in but the area is still designated residential,” Fankhauser said.
The Public Lands and Building Committee discussed the rental agreement with American Tower and Verizon at 485 S. Walnut St., for the land that the current cell tower is located. The decision was made to allow the lease agreement to continue as it is currently with American Tower.
The Service Committee approved the purchase of 800 tons of salt through the state’s bid plan for next winter and legislation to allow the city service safety director to obtain material bids for city projects.
The finance committee approved the Ohio Department of Transportation salt bids, material bids, engineer’s plans for the Ohio 98 waterline project and various appropriations.
Mark Makeever pointed out that two Bucyrus police officers have been in quarantine but at least one is coming back to work soon.
“We need this right now in case of an emergency situation,” Reser said.
Amendments to the billet for part-time workers to be hired for the police and fire departments if needed during the pandemic were approved for legislation after discussion on how it will work with the union.
A finance committee meeting will be April 14 at 6:30 p.m. to add 20 part-time employees on the fire and police departments if needed with a special council meeting at 7 p.m. to approve the change in manpower.