BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Finance Committee of the Bucyrus City Council is making a bold move, sending a strong message to the organizers of the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival. The committee has warned that if the festival continues to disregard the council’s requests to examine their financial records, the council will potentially withdraw all financial support.
The council has been providing safety forces and trash removal services for the festival without charge, as per a permanent agreement with the festival in 2018. However, Financial Committee Chairwoman Vicki Dishon is now pushing for the repeal of the ordinance containing this agreement. Dishon emphasized the need for an annual review of the financial assistance provided to the festival, pointing out that the council’s requests to access the festival’s financial records have been consistently ignored since February.
Council President Kurt Fankhauser raised concerns about allocating funds to the festival while community donations are being collected to keep the pool open. The council’s intention to review the festival’s financials is clear, with plans to send a certified letter to the Board’s Statutory Agent demanding transparency regarding their financial situation. A deadline to respond by April 12 will be in the letter as well as council’s intention to change the agreement in place. The agreement requires one year’s notice if changes are intended. Therefore this year’s festival will not be affected.
The Finance Committee unanimously passed a motion to draft legislation that would signal a potential change in the permanent agreement with the festival. Law Director Brian Gernert suggested that this legislation could encourage the festival’s Board to open their books for review. President Fankhauser will draft the letter to the Board, outlining the council’s intent to repeal the ordinance containing the current agreement and setting a deadline for the submission of financial records by April 12th.
Moving forward, the Finance Committee will convene on April 18th to discuss the next steps, which may include keeping the agreement but review it annually, reducing services provided to the festival or requiring the festival to cover its own related expenses. Fankhauser highlighted the need to assess the costs associated with supporting all events, noting the significant resources required to accommodate the Bratwurst Festival’s multi-day and overnight services.
With a commitment to financial transparency and responsible allocation of resources, the Bucyrus City Council is taking proactive measures to ensure accountability in its support for community events. President Fankhauser and Law Director Gernert are set to send the formal letter to the festival’s Board, signaling a new chapter in the council’s relationship with the Bratwurst Festival.