By Jordan Studer
news@wbcowqel.com

Repairs and refurbishing to city-owned property dominated discussions at Thursday’s Bucyrus City Council committee meetings.

One of the orders of business was the discussion of repairs set to be done to the Bucyrus Fire Station. The project was initially considered in 2014, but many other urgent repairs and projects seemed to push back the fire station repairs.

Two quotes were previously turned in by Studer-Obringer, Inc. General Contractors and Joe Teynor & Sons LLC. The proposed quote for all repairs needed to the fire station from Studer-Obringer, Inc. was $92,400. Joe Teynor & Sons LLC proposed a quote of $86,675.

The Public Lands and Buildings Committee stemmed a long conversation about the needs for said repairs.

Considering the building has not been repaired in 30 years, there is a build-up in the repair list. Mayor Jeff Reser explained that replacing the building would easily be a million-dollar project. However, by repairing the building for $100,000, the building should be in-shape to last an additional 20 to 30 years.

“The building is in relatively good shape. We feel if we invest this amount of money we can get the new doors we need to fix some of the issues of water run-off as well as the tuck-pointing and repairing and replacing the bad brick… it’s a good investment to fix up our property,” Reser expressed.

The option was then proposed to consider the project an emergency due to the amount of repairs needed. Council member Mark Makeever made a motion to consider the project an emergency and take the bid from Joe Teynor & Sons LLC without a formal bidding. The motion was seconded, but there was opposition. Daniel Wirebaugh, chairman of Public Lands and Buildings, opposed Makeever’s idea.

“When we don’t follow the rules, we always get in trouble,” Wirebaugh said.

Finance Committee Chairman Bill O’Rourke agreed that the project should go through the formal bidding process.

“I’m with Dan, I don’t like it… We’re trying to cut corners and we’re trying to shave ways to get around things,” O’Rourke explained.

Steve Pifer, a member of the Finance Committee, also spoke up in agreement with Wirebaugh and O’Rourke.

“When I look at the list in the first estimate, it’s the exact same stuff from 2014. So, three years later, is it any more of an emergency now as it was then?” Pifer questioned.

After hearing all of the opposition, Makeever withdrew his motion. A motion was then made by Public Lands and Buildings Committee to be put to formal bid. The motion was then passed.

The Finance Committee then made a motion to approve legislation of the formal bid. A not to exceed limit was set at $100,000.

Another important discussion surrounded the repair of the Aumiller Park. Reser explained how the courts are getting to the point where they are unplayable and are becoming an eye sore.

Reser met with Richland Sealcoating to receive an estimate for all of the repairs needed. According to Reser, the contractor said that the courts can be repaired now, but if they get too much worse they will have to be replaced.

Along with the repairs, it was proposed to install a pickleball court as well. Reser explained to the council how the community has expressed a want for pickleball courts.

“Pickleball is one of those sports, maybe you haven’t heard of it, but it’s a quickly growing sport. We have quite a few people that play it in town. They tend to play it at the YMCA,” Reser explained.

The total amount to to wash, clean, fill the 840 feet of cracks, apply ARMOR® Crack Repair System, acrylic resurface, two coats of color coding, and re-striping of the tennis courts would cost $24,655. The painting of pickleball courts, including power washing, cleaning and 104 feet of crack repair would cost an additional $5,965.

Reser also mentioned to the council the idea of installing exercise stations next year around the playground area just to the north of the courts. However, there are also cracks in that area that would need to be repaired as well. The total cost for exercise stations and repairs would be $2,330.

“If there is any way we can see fit to appropriate the money, we would like to get these going. He could get these done yet this summer,” Reser stated.

The basketball courts are also in bad shape. Reser is working with a a private family who would like to take on this refurbishing project as a donation to the city. The project would be about $10,000.

Though many of the council thought the refurbishing was a good idea, it was questioned where the money would come from to do this project. The idea was brought up to use funds the Philbin Charitable Trust, or some other fund or grant.

The Public Lands and Buildings Committee made a motion to pass the proposal on to the Finance Committee. When the Finance Committee discussed the situation, they further questioned where the money would come from. After looking further into the Philbin Charitable Trust and discussing other options such as community organizations donations, it was concluded that the council and the mayor would look more into where the funds could come from. The subject was then put on hold.

Many other items were discussed on the agenda. Some of the highlights that spiked the attention of the council were the possible leasing options of the ODOT garage on Irving Street. Reeser explained how it would be nice to get the building into shape to have all of the city equipment in one area. The motion was made and passed to send the subject to administration to look further into the details.

A motion was also passed to allow the administration to seek to get their license to run concessions at Aumiller Park pool. Currently the Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities can no longer be the ones to provide the services. Therefore, the pool is only allowed to sell water until they receive a license to sell other items until another organization is found to run the concessions.

The installation of a new air conditioning unit in City Hall was also discussed. It was not put out for bid, but two proposals were made by Kinn Brothers at $59,650 and Air Force One at $78,000. The possibility of receiving a grant from AEP was mentioned, but not guaranteed. A motion was passed to put the project out for formal bid.

Two city-owned lots on 317 S. East Charles St. are currently maintained by the city. The Crawford County Land Bank believes it can combine the entire strip of land and get a development plan in place if the city is willing to turn the property over to the CCLB. A resolution was made to turn the lots over to the Land Bank.

Appropriations made by the Finance Committee were all approved. The Platting Committee discussed changes made by the Bucyrus City Planning Commission to the Bucyrus Zoning Code regarding the retail and dining/alcohol sales in the public right of way. A motion was passed to keep the changes. A public hearing date regarding this matter is set for 4:30 p.m. on July 24.

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