BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Important discussions about the financial future of Bucyrus will take place tonight during the Bucyrus City Council Committee Meetings. The meeting will start at 6 pm in the council chambers. Committees will cover a range of topics that will have a significant impact on the citizens of Bucyrus. The public is strongly encouraged to attend and participate.
Some of the key issues to be discussed include:
1. Issues related to the city’s annexation of the Law Director’s property. A letter from Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall has highlighted unintended consequences with the annexation, which will result in Bucyrus Township losing $50,000.00 in tax revenue. The Platting Committee will discuss ways to rectify this situation.
2. Creation of bonding requirements for projects within the city. Recent projects have resulted in damage to water lines, leading to widespread boil advisories. The council will discuss the implementation of bonding requirements to prevent such incidents in the future and cover the city’s cost to repair them.
3. Deposits and procedures for city utilities, including water deposits and collecting unpaid water bills when a resident moves out. Currently, the responsibility for paying these bills falls on the property owner or gets attached to their real estate taxes. However, some residents argue that they never agreed to accept this responsibility or signed any document agreeing to it and believe that the billing practices are unfair. The council will review the ordinance and consider potential changes.
4. The Health and Safety Committee will do Suv issues, including the upcoming ambulance contracts and the possibility of repealing an ordinance that mandates the number of firefighters on duty at the firehouse. The previous administration implemented Ordinance 12-2023 due to concerns about the fire department being understaffed. The council will discuss the necessity of this ordinance.
5. Public Lands and Buildings will address the leasing of the old water tower property on Warren Street for cell phone towers. Additionally, the council will discuss the leasing of other public lands to solar farmers.
6. The Finance Committee will address the upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, a project estimated to cost $59,000,000.00. They will also discuss taxation, proposed levies, and utility procedures.
Public input is vital to the council as they navigate the challenging decisions facing Bucyrus. To be proactive, Mayor Bruce Truka has reached out to the Ohio Auditor for assistance in assessing the city’s current level of fiscal distress.
The meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live on the City of Bucyrus Facebook page.
If you are unable to attend or watch the meetings, you are encouraged to write or send an email to the council. All letters and emails are read into the record. Updated email addresses can be found on the City of Bucyrus website.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing story.