By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
A resolution was approved by Bucyrus City Council during its regular meeting Tuesday evening that will allow the city to take over the legal side of the county’s sewer district.
The resolution will allow Bucyrus Law Director Rob Ratliff to enter into a representation agreement with the Crawford County Sewer District for the assignment of its legal rights.
Ratliff said if the city takes over the water supply agreement between the city and the county, instead of waiting until the debt is paid off for waterlines already serving county residents, the city then has the authority to stop other entities from entering certain districts in the county to provide water to residents.
This would include Ohio Northern Rural Water of Norwalk, which already is in the process of contracting with Sulphur Springs residents to provide water. According to the Ohio Northern Rural Water website, it already provides water service in Crawford County to customers in Auburn, Chatfield and Cranberry Townships.
In other council business, council clerk Todd Hill read a request by Tracy Keegan, treasurer of the Bucyrus Lodge 68 of the Fraternal Order of Police, Inc., for council to grant permission for street closures in the downtown area June 9 for the annual Cruisin’ with the Cops Custom and Classic Car Show.
Hill also read a request by the planning commission for zoning changes to properties in the 900 block of Whetstone Street owned by Wes Howell, and a request by Kurt Fankhauser to change zoning laws to allow towers to fall under conditional use in the commercial districts of general business and general industry.
All three requests were approved to be considered by the appropriate committees during the Joint Council Committee meetings Thursday at 6 p.m.
Other legislation approved by council included a change to employee manpower regarding lifeguards, changes to ordinances relating to weeds and grass and various appropriations. A new line item also was added into Waterworks Replacement that allots $100,000 for initial engineering and additional planning needed for waterline expansion.
A resolution for a five-year mutual aid fire agreement between the Bucyrus Fire Department and Liberty Township also was approved.
The next council meeting is April 3 at 7 p.m.