By Kimberly Gasuras
The Bucyrus City Council committees approved several pieces of legislation to go before the entire council during the joint regular committees meeting Thursday evening.
A mutual aid agreement with Liberty Township in the New Washington area was approved.
“Liberty Township has requested the mutual aid agreement. They did have one with Crestline,” city service safety director Jeff Wagner said. “The agreement is for five years.”
Council member Dan Wirebaugh referred to proposed changes to the ordinance that allows fines to be assessed to property owners who do not mow the grass at their properties as a step in the right direction.
Law director Rob Ratliff is putting in place more stringent fines and property assessments for habitual offenders.
He said the city mows more than 80 properties every summer due to neglect by the property owners. A similar ordinance regarding trash and rubbish also will have more stringent requirements.
Wagner said an incident last year cost the city approximately $1,000.
“We picked up furniture with the garbage truck that was not wrapped in plastic. We won’t be doing that again,” Wagner said of furniture that was infested with bugs.
Wagner said the city had to pay for the extermination of several city trucks along with one employee’s home from the spread of the infestation.
Several council members suggested offering furniture bags that residents may purchase to wrap furniture or appliances in before placing them at the curb.
Various appropriations were approved to be voted on by council at its next meeting March 20 at 7 p.m.
A proposed contract with Kurt Fankhauser for use of city towers for his Wavelinc business was tabled until the Public Lands and Building Committee meets again Tuesday.
“I want to have time to read over this contract before voting on it,” councilmember Mark Makeever said.
Several committee meetings will occur again Tuesday.