By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A generous donation is helping the City of Bucyrus comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
The R. Duane and Inez Hord family donated 5.534 acres at the corner of Beal Avenue and Isaac-Beal Road, property which abuts the Port Bucyrus Airport. That area of land allows the city to have a cleared space near the runway as required by the FAA. The property is valued is $6,505.24 per acre.
“A most generous contribution to the city,” remarked acting Mayor Sis Love. “The Hord family has been very generous to the city and we do thank him.”
Legislation accepting the land donation was passed unanimously during Tuesday night’s Bucyrus City Council meeting.
A second piece of legislation concerning the airport was also passed by the entire Council. Resolution 216-2014 authorizes the service/safety director or the mayor to apply for an FAA grant as well as advertise for bids for airport maintenance.
Airport maintenance on the taxi-way, drainage, and driveway will cost $161,801. There will be no cost to the city with the FAA grants.
Two additional pieces of legislation were passed during the night’s regular council meeting. A Material and Supplies Item was created within the Police Department category. Council also approved an appropriation of $15,000 from the Safety Forces Levy Fund to the Material and Supplies Item within the Police Department category. An additional sum of $7,154 was appropriated from the 2012 CHIP Home Grant Funds within the Community Environment category.
Sarah Lipscomb, the driving forces behind bringing Safety Town back to Bucyrus, announced to City Council that Safety Town will be going on from 9 a.m. to noon this week at Bucyrus Elementary School. Forty-three kindergarteners have already been signed up for the event. Lipscomb said they have installed a mini village to practice safety skills and have shown safety videos. Pediatricians have also been on hand to teach hand washing and hygiene.
“We’re very lucky for you to do this for us,” acting Council President Bruce Truka said.
Public meetings will be held at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25 in Council Chambers concerning the city’s gas aggregation program. Columbia Gas of Ohio customers are encouraged to attend.
Two Bucyrus City Council committee meetings have been scheduled for Thursday, June 19. The Service Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. with the Finance Committee to follow at 4:45.