BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Bucyrus City Council rejected a motion to reconsider the potential purchase of the former YMCA building adjacent to the city’s fire station. This decision followed appeals from Council President Kurt Fankhauser, Bucyrus Fire Chief Chad Schwemley, and Firefighters Local 1120 President Jeremy Gilliam, all of whom advocated for the acquisition.
In his letter to the council, Fankhauser emphasized the strategic importance of the YMCA building for future fire department expansions, suggesting that purchasing the property could save the city millions in the long run. He highlighted the current overcrowding of equipment in the fire station, which has been exacerbated by the department’s expanded role in providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Fankhauser pointed out that the existing fire station operates at approximately 38% of the size of a similar facility in Danbury Township, which recently opened a new station at a cost of over $6 million.
Fankhauser argued that adding onto the existing station would be a more financially prudent option than building a new facility, particularly given the city’s looming financial challenges, including a significant wastewater treatment plant project. He urged the council to view the YMCA purchase as a proactive investment in public safety rather than an unnecessary expense.
Bucyrus Fire Chief Schwemley echoed these sentiments, stating that acquiring the YMCA would allow for efficient expansion of the fire station and help avoid the high costs associated with new construction. Schwemley stressed the need for modern facilities to accommodate evolving public safety demands and to enhance emergency response capabilities.
In support of the acquisition, Jeremy Gilliam, President of Firefighters Local 1120, highlighted the cramped conditions in the current firehouse, built in 1905. He noted the department’s need for additional space to accommodate modern fire and EMS equipment, asserting that the purchase of the YMCA building would alleviate overcrowding and improve operations.
Despite these appeals for reconsideration, the Bucyrus City Council ultimately rejected the motion, maintaining their original stance on the property purchase. City Council President Kurt Fankhauser issued the following statement Wednesday morning:
“It’s very disappointing to see that last night Bucyrus City Council was unwilling to reconsider Resolution 228-2024 regarding the purchase of the former YMCA property. I was asked to put that Resolution back on the agenda with new information to be presented to Council. Shockingly, the Council was unwilling to even hear what that new information was. What could be so wrong with hearing new pertinent information? The problem would be that Council would look like they flip-flopped on the issue and at all costs they had to make that resolution die. They killed it not because it wasn’t a good idea from the beginning, but because it was Kurt’s idea. It’s sad that this Council is putting personal vendettas against the future wellbeing of Bucyrus. Council didn’t want to have to look like they were being dragged across the finish line.”
The council’s rejection of the motion reflects ongoing debates about fiscal responsibility and community needs as Bucyrus navigates its budgetary constraints and public service obligations. Crawford County Now reached out to the Interim Law Director for comment early Wednesday morning but received no response.