BUCYRUS—Thursday night’s committee meetings for the Bucyrus City Council went smoothly for the first few minutes anyway.

During the Finance Committee meeting, Chairman Dan Wirebaugh invited the new manager of a shoe store that is due to open in Bucyrus to speak.

Cory Bright, Manager of the new Shoe Sensation store set to open on September 30, addressed council with enthusiasm about the new store.

“Shoe Sensation wants to touch each and every business. I’ve done a lot of research and I’ve learned through that research that Bucyrus is a very communical based city. I’ve spoken to the Chamber of Commerce Averee, absolutely enjoyed that conversation, she gave me some good pointers.” Bright said.

Bright told the council that Shoe Sensations has boots on the ground and is working with area businesses like the Copper Kettle.

“The Copper Kettle wants to work with me and Shoe Sensation. Even though it is a very small business, you have to start somewhere. I wanted to let them know that’s where it starts.” Bright said.

Bright told the council she wants customers to know that if they need any special shoes, she can get them.

Bright said God sent her Dan Wirebaugh (who met her earlier and asked her to speak).

She told council she was there to just present herself and to tell them Shoe Sensation is there to help the community:

“It starts small to make us grand and it takes a small village to make what we have now.” Bright said.

Bright told council that they are hosting a hiring fair August 31-September 1 at the Holiday Inn on North Sandusky Ave.

Bright promised a “ ginormous “ grand opening on September 30 with a band and Baker’s Pizza. With a wink and a smile, she told council:

“If possible, I’d like my grand opening to be even bigger than your Carle’s Bratwurst Festival!”

As Bright finished, citizen Robert Taylor entered chambers in a bit of a rush because he was late.

“You got here just in time… come on up here,” Wirebaugh said, motioning Taylor to the podium.

Taylor told council he was there on behalf of a resident on Ranchwood Drive. “ I’m here because this gentleman got a letter in the mail asking if he wanted city water. He didn’t have to answer the letter but he did and said he didn’t want the water. He looks out in his yard and he sees a fire hydrant in his yard that nobody asked if they could put there. He called the city and was told he should be glad they only put it in 10 feet when they could’ve put it in 26 feet. What are we doing here? Why are we talking to people like this?”

At that point, Dan Wirebaugh stopped him and told him that this was not finance committee business.

 

Taylor became upset. “Dan, you know I just walked in here, and I didn’t know I couldn’t speak. In fact, you invited me up here to this podium. Every time I talk, you interrupt me, sir. This is another example of the government infringing on the rights of the people. Now, do I get my three minutes or not?

I just came from a long day at work and the gym. I’m here for another guy, not for myself!” Wirebaugh said he didn’t realize Taylor’s topic was not financing committee related.

Taylor threw his arms up in the air and walked out of the meeting.

Shaken by the disruption, Wirebaugh apologized for his reaction to Taylor.

 

The special Ad-hoc committee meeting didn’t quite last long enough for Vicki Dishon to correct the procedure used to call the meeting. Dishon said since the whole council was present, a special notice needed to be given allowing public participation in a council meeting rather than a committee meeting.

Councilman Kevin Myers asked Law Director Brian Gernert as he stood up, “So should we shut up and get up and walk out right now?” Gernert said, “ Yah,” and everyone left Council chambers.

A new notice will be published announcing a special council meeting to be held for the purposes of hiring a new clerk.