By Krystal Smalley
Ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

A night expected to be full of debate and interesting topics fizzled into a meeting about water tower repairs Thursday.

The Bucyrus City Council Health and Safety Committee meeting was supposed to talk about outdoor alcohol consumption in the Downtown Business District, designated outdoor refreshment areas, and medical marijuana. That part of the meeting was effectively canceled when Councilman Bill O’Rourke contacted Council President Sis Love roughly 20 minutes before the meeting to inform her that he would not be able to attend. Combined with the fact that Councilwoman Wanda Sharrock, who submitted a letter of resignation at the last council meeting that will go into effect at the end of the month, was also not in attendance, the Health and Safety Committee and the Platting Committee lacked quorums.

Natalie Norman, proprietor of Norman’s Niche, took to the podium despite the fact that the subject pertaining to her business would not be discussed.

“I’m so discouraged,” Norman said as she accused O’Rourke of dragging the matter out. “They (council members) are paid to be here and they don’t show up.”

Norman admitted she was disgusted by the way matters are being handled in town and suggested that the general public felt the same way.

“I just want the general public to think when they vote. Look who’s here tonight and look who’s not,” Norman said.

“I just really think that four lanes is a good thing for our downtown,” a bitter Norman continued. “It sends people through really fast because nobody in town really cares. Not O’Rourke – he should not be here – nobody wants to see the downtown prosper. No one.”

Kurt Fankhauser suggested that the Health and Safety Committee should have another meeting before the next regularly scheduled one to talk about the ongoing matter of outdoor alcohol consumption.

“This town can’t wait another two weeks to go by before the issue is resolved,” Fankhauser argued.

Council members Steve Pifer and Mark Makeever entered the debate, noting that meetings can be scheduled, but nothing could be done if council members do not show up.

“I’m not defending anybody here, but Wanda I don’t believe for one second is not showing up because of how she feels about outdoor (alcohol),” Pifer said before gesturing to O’Rourke’s empty seat beside him. “This one on the other hand . . . I’ll leave it at that.”

Councilman Dan Wirebaugh informed Norman that the county’s Democrat Party, who is responsible for appointing Sharrock’s replacement, is already working on finding a suitable candidate that will fill the seat sometime in May.

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Daryl Bolling of Utilities Service Corp attended the joint committee meeting to discuss repairs to the two water towers in town. Bolling recently inspected the east and north towers and found rust, corrosion, and general repairs that need to be done after more than a decade of use since the last repairs.

“Nothing to be concerned about – you’ve just gotten your use out of it,” Bolling said.

He noted, however, that the two towers have aged differently despite having been repaired at roughly the same time in the early 1990s. Notably, a different coating system was used on the north tower, which led Bolling to suggest keeping a closer eye on that exterior in case the overcoat project would need to be moved up on the timeline.

The budget for the repairs would see $76,000 spent on each tower over five years. The work would include blasting and painting the interior with a two-coat epoxy, updating the safety cable climbs, conducting dry interior blasting or touch ups, changing the screen on the north tower’s overflow tank, and adding the exterior overcoat. Bolling suggested staggering the work on the two towers.

The Finance Committee will be seeking legislation for a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account application to help relieve the financial pressures of the EPA-mandated storm separation project. The nearly $3 million loan would carry a zero percent interest and a long-term amortization schedule.

“It’s a very attractive loan,” said Mayor Jeff Reser. “It’s a real blessing to receive this. These types of projects are only going to get more expensive.”

Legislation will also be sought for the tax collection proposal with Capital Recovery Systems. The firm would take over pursing overdue taxes owed to the city, thus alleviating the Law Director’s office and the police department.