By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

Meeting for the second time this week, the Bucyrus City Council officially approved the authorization for the City Service-Safety Director to enter into a contract for the Mary/Crawford/Perry storm separation project Thursday night.

Meeting after the joint session of the council committees in which the Finance Committee approved the project to go to bid, council approved the resolution retroactively from when the project went to bid on November 1 of this year. The bid, not to exceed $152,136, has been picked up by Dellinger Excavating of Monroeville, Ohio, and was signed for approval by Bucyrus Service-Safety Director Jeff Wagner on December 14.

The project will be partially funded by a grant, which was originally $184,000 when the estimates for the project was $300,000.

When asked when the project would be able to start, Mayor Jeff Reser explained that they would be starting after January 1, 2017 on the project.

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The Finance Committee also approved legislation authorizing City Auditor Joyce Schifer to pay $18,000 to the Ohio Regional Development Authority for their administrative work on the Theater Demolition/Art Park.

A few questions were answered as to what Bucyrus’ involvement would be if they contract through Life Support to help the ambulance service when they are over-encumbered on ambulance runs.

Bucyrus Fire Department Captain Chad Schwemley explained that the Bucyrus Fire Department EMS squad would be used as a possible third call. Schwemley noted that average use would most likely be five to six times per month that the ambulance service would be used, and that operations-wise, there would be no change for the fire department. The goal of the usage of the Bucyrus Fire Department’s EMS staff would be to hinder the need for a subsidy when the new ambulance service contract goes to bid in 2017.

Schwemley noted that as long as Bucyrus Fire Department transported the patient that the department would then bill the patient for the run.

Bucyrus representative to the Central Joint Ambulance District (CJAD) Steve Pifer asked what the rate for the transportation for patients would be, which Schwemley responded by saying it would be the same rate as Life Support.

Councilmember Bill O’Rourke asked what would happen if Bucyrus was needed for a run in Tiro, and hypothesizing that the $250 fee paid to the department from Life Support would be exceeded by the people being called in.

Schwemley quelled those fears by noting that about 90% of the calls that the ambulance service responds to happen within the city. Schwemley also added that usually the Bucyrus Fire Department respond throughout the county if there is a need for multiple ambulances.

City Law Director Rob Ratliff spoke about the legal process of having Bucyrus Fire Department EMS become an additional call for the ambulance service.

“Tonight we are just considering this. Coming down the pipe Life Support has to ask for a specific release from their contract with the CJAD,” Ratliff explained. “If the CJAD allows the release then Life Support would come back to us and negotiate.”

Councilmember O’Rourke suggested that the townships collect a pool of money in order to help pay for the costs if the Bucyrus Fire Department EMS would get a call.

Ratliff retorted to O’Rourke that currently there are no subsidies to Life Support, and the city would be subcontracted through them. Ratliff also noted that he does share the concern about the possibility of the firefighters being out of town on another call if a fire were to break out, but through mutual aid agreements other towns and townships would be available to help as well.

O’Rourke was adamant with his theory that there wouldn’t be enough money to cover call-ins, however, Ratliff noted to O’Rourke that the negotiations with Life Support hadn’t finished, and that ultimately it was up to the CJAD to agree with Life Support who would then negotiate with the city.

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The Platting Committee approved the motion for draft legislation for zoning amendment requests for Avita Health Systems and Hometown Garage LLC.

Avita Health Systems would be taking 301, 307, 311, and 317 Hill Street and 623 Pleasant Hill Drive from Suburban Residential (R2) to General Business. Additionally, Avita requested a change in zoning of 541 Plants Way from Urban Neighborhood Residential (R3) to General Business. Avita Health System Director of Plant Operations Dave Morehead noted that the plan would be to move the Health Trax building to the new location.

Hometown Garage LLC requested that the vacant lot at 334 N. Sandusky Avenue be changed from Apartment Residential (AR) to Downtown Business. Dawn Orewiler of Hometown Garage noted that they would like to expand their auto care department to a three-stall garage and hire two to three more employees.

The draft legislation for both requests are expected to be completed and posted by January 5, with a public hearing for both requests on February 5 before final approval.

The Economic Development Committee approved Bobby Carter to be appointed for another 2 year term on the Airport Commission. Carter’s current term ends on December 31, 2016. The Economic Development Committee also approved Sandy Shields’ three-year term to the Bucyrus Public Library Board of Trustees.

While both of those positions were filled, the Economic Development Committee is still searching for two members for a two-year term to the Local Board of Tax Review.

Prior to adjourning to the special council meeting, Mayor Reser gave an update of the current internet service. Currently, the city plans to migrate the city email accounts to one singular server by and absolve Wavelinc from all responsibility and liability maintaining the email service in March of next year. The city will then enter into contract with Time-Warner for internet service.

While Wavelinc will no longer be the city’s internet and email service provider, they will still retain its place on all of the city’s towers for the remainder of the contract in exchange for the release of the internet and email service. As a result of retaining their tower position, the mayor explained that Wavelength has agreed to provide free wireless internet access in all of the city’s parks.

At the conclusion of the Wavelinc contract, the tower space will be open for bid.

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