By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
After weeks of debate, Bucyrus City Council members unanimously voted to stay in the Central Joint Ambulance District (CJAD).
Council member Andrew Schoch said the city now will have three years to look at other options for ambulance services in the Bucyrus, while Dan Wirebaugh said the city should work closely with the district for future plans.
“We should see if there is a way for the city to be the main ambulance provider to at least some of the townships,” Wirebaugh said.
Mayor Jeff Reser did not agree with the decision.
“What bothers me is that if there is a subsidy, the result will be fewer services to city residents, including our safety forces,” Reser told council. “You are looking out for people who want to live outside the city.”
Reser later thanked the council members for their hard work on the issue and said he knows it was a tough decision.
Bucyrus resident Greg White spoke to council before the decision to stay with the district was official.
“What if GE and Timken leave town,” White said. “I don’t see how the city can fund its own ambulance service at this time.”
Acting Bucyrus Fire Chief Chad Schwemley presented the fire department’s 2017 annual report to council.
“We had a busy year,” Schwemley said.
Along with 903 calls, including 26 structure fires and 366 EMS assist runs, Schwemley said firefighters installed 169 smoke detectors in residents’ homes through a program with the American Red Cross.
The department also helped 125 families, including 300 children, at Christmas through the toy and coat drive.
Reser said that four-way stops at East Mansfield Street and Spring and Poplar streets and another one at Poplar and Mary streets are being recommended by the traffic commission to become permanent. The issue was referred to the council’s health and safety committee.
“We have received a lot of calls about the traffic light at Walmart,” Reser said. “We did not take that light down and are not sure what happened, although we think a truck took it down.”
Reser said parts to repair the traffic lights have been ordered and it should be fixed and back up sometime next week.
In other business, council passed two ordinances, including various appropriations and the repeal and replacement of the billet regarding employees at the Aumiller Park Pool, and two resolutions.
One resolution will allow the closure of several streets June 9 for the Cruisin’ with the Cops Custom and Classic Car Show and the other allows city officials to enter into an agreement on behalf of the city with Wavelinc for tower space.
Several issues will be discussed during the council committee meetings Thursday at 6 p.m. and the next council meeting is April 17 at 7 p.m. in council chambers at Bucyrus City Hall.