By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

Bucyrus Auditor Joyce Schifer’s request for a new computer system and software was a hot issue at the City Council’s Finance Committee meeting Monday night.

Schifer’s request to purchase a new computer and updated software for the Auditor’s and Income Tax offices had been passed at a previous Finance Committee meeting, but voted down by City Council at its Dec. 3 meeting. That request was discussed yet again Monday with many of the same arguments raised.

Schifer explained during the committee’s discussion that the total cost to upgrade everything would be $32,493 through Software Solutions. Schifer told the Finance Committee that the computer and software being run in the Auditor and Income Tax offices are currently seven years old, and have been having issues. No action was taken and the issue is likely to be discussed again at the next full City Council meeting on Dec. 17.

The Finance Committee approved advances for year’s end which will then have to be passed by Bucyrus City Council. The advances total $325,229 with $155,000 of the advances going towards the South Walnut Street Project.

The Finance Committee also approved appropriations for funds that are no longer needed including a $10,000 reduction in capital outlay for sewage disposal. The CBG12 Fund of $37,800 was also approved to be reduced. The fund will however have to be re-appropriated in 2014 when the North Sandusky Road Project will begin.

The Finance Committee also agreed to meet on Thursday, to discuss how to address man power changes, as well as the 2014 budget.

The Health and Safety Committee met Monday night to discuss the removal of the temporary northbound stop sign at Marion Road and Sandusky Avenue.

The committee plans to replace the sign with an L.E.D. stop sign where the current temporary sign is currently in place.

While the committee approved the motion, the measure will have to make appropriate modifications to the current traffic control map if necessary.

Law Director Rob Ratliff was asked by the Health and Safety Committee to carry out three tasks during the committee’s meeting Monday night.

The first request is to have Ratliff respond to the State Liquor Control and explain that the city has nothing for the year; the second request is for Ratliff to look at legislation that would make it illegal for citizens to purposefully rake their leaves onto the street.

A third request was tabled for Ratliff to review whether or not if trees standing on a private property that are dead should be removed at the homeowner’s expense.

The Bucyrus Platting Committee had one item on the agenda Monday night.

During their meeting, the committee approved the reappointment of Kenneth Emerson to the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals.