By: Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Despite disapproval from a few members of Bucyrus City Council an amendment to increase sewer rates was passed by the legislative body Tuesday night.
An amendment to Codified Ordinance 925.03 which changes the sewer rates to a $7.20 Clean Buffalo monthly fee for all customers, and a three percent rate increase per year was passed with emergency by Bucyrus City Council Tuesday night 5-2. Councilmembers John Walker and Wanda Sharrock both voted against the measure.
Walker noted that there should be enough money in the sewer fund to piggyback with the $7.20 rate increase and that the three percent yearly rate increase should be removed. Walker added that he would like to see the EPA mandate that says that they need to increase the rates. Bucyrus City Council President Sis Love explained to Walker that the city is trying to avoid the mandate by being proactive with the sewer project. Love added that the city is trying to get a consent decree and not a mandate.
Walker believed that the mandate was driven by greed, and that he has not been for the three percent increase since the day it was presented to the committees.
An amendment was added to the measure which removed the word mandate and replace it with the word fee, as well as set the dates of the rate increase from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2022.
An ordinance that would create a fund for the new Water Filtration Plant and Distribution Construction fund with a Water Filtration category with a 25 capital outlay line item and a Water Distribution category with a 25 capital outlay line item all with zero balances was unanimously approved by council with emergency Tuesday night.
Various appropriations were approved by City Council Tuesday night. Among appropriations in the ordinance included an appropriation of $23.76 million to the Capital Outlay Line Item within the Water Filtration Category for the new Water Filtration Plant, and a $2.64 million appropriation from the Capital Outlay Line Item within the Water Distribution Category for Distribution lines from the new Water Treatment Plant. An appropriation of $600 from unappropriated General Funds to the Contractual Services Line Item within the council Category to cover telephone bills for the remainder of the year. An appropriation of $80,230 from unappropriated ODNR-Theater Demolition Funds were appropriated to the Capital Outlay Line Item within the Lands and Buildings Category within the ODNR-Theater Demolition Fund Subparagraph for the local share of the project.
City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that makes amendments to the Bucyrus Zoning Ordinance -1191 Signs. Amendments to the Sign Code of the Bucyrus City Zoning Ordinance include definitions, prohibited signs, signs that don’t require a permit, general requirements on temporary signs as well as permanent signs, and nonconforming signs. The changes to the zoning ordinance were submitted by an ad hoc committee. The entire Sign Code can be found online at http://www.cityofbucyrusoh.us/ordinances.php.
Prior to adjournment Bucyrus City Council referred the possible annexation of the old K-Mart building to the Economic Development Committee. The roof of City Hall, as well as the towers that are on city-owned lands were referred to Public Lands and Buildings, and the 2015 Bratwurst Festival was referred to the Health and Safety committee as well as the Finance Committee.