BUCYRUS — Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser, the city auditor and the new Bucyrus City Council were sworn into their positions Monday at Bucyrus City Hall by Crawford County Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold.
Reser said he is looking forward to his second full four-year term as the city’s mayor and to working with the new council that includes Bruce Truka who has been on council for two decades, Kevin Myers and Doug Foght who were sworn into their second terms and Mark Makeever, who took the Oath of Office to begin his third term as a council member. New members include council president Kurt Fankhauser, second-ward council member Candy Yocum, fourth-ward representative Lisa Alsept and council-at-large member James Mee.
“We are looking forward to working with a nice mix of new members and veteran council members,” Council said. “Every council has its own personality and I think this is going to be a good council.”
Reser said some of the first things the city administration will be working on include plans for the city’s bicentennial in 2021, an insurance program for utility bills and plans for the Pines Reservoir.
“That is a big decision for council to decide what we are going to do with the reservoir, sell it, use it, so that will be a big decision for council,” Reser said.
Fankhauser said he is looking forward to working closely with Reser and council members to continue to make improvements to the city.
“Some of those things I would like to see in the first year are a final resolution to the EMS (Emergency Services) situation, is the city going to do its own EMS or work something out with the ambulance district,” Fankhauser said. “I would also like to see a sidewalk commission formed and money set aside in the budget for sidewalk replacement every year.”
He said he wants the city to have complete transparency for residents, including the city’s detailed financial reports.
“I would like to see all of the city’s finances put on the website so anyone can go on there and review them,” Fankhauser said. “I want to see all public records of the city available to the public on the website. This will save time for city employees instead of them having to make copies for public records requests.”
He said all city-related meetings should be recorded and available to the public, such as city council and committee meetings and board of zoning appeals.
Alsept said she wants to help facilitate changes to make Bucyrus a more desirable place to live.
“I want the community to look better and more attractive to visitors and to help bring good jobs to our area,” she said.
Mee said he also wants to make a difference in the city.
“I want to help make positive changes in the city. I intend to really listen to what residents are saying,” Mee said.
Yocum said she wants to see more follow-through by council and city administrations to avoid an issue like one with the Pines Reservoir.
“There were issues since 1972 that were not addressed until now. There needs to be better checks and balances within the city’s government,” Yocum said. “I also want to see more public participation in our city’s government, especially our youth.”
City auditor Joyce Schifer was also sworn-in for another term.