By Kimberly Gasuras

With eight pieces of legislation to consider, the mayor’s state of the city address and two meetings before the regular council meeting began, the Bucyrus City Council had a busy evening Tuesday.

The focus of a service committee meeting, followed by a finance committee on the same issue, was waterline expansion. Council voted to allow Mayor Jeff Reser and city service safety director Jeff Wagner to enter into an agreement with Makeever and Associates to create a plan for the expansion and construction of waterlines to underserved and rural areas surrounding the city.

Law director Rob Ratliff said time is of the essence because two other entities already are working on expanding their waterlines into the southern part of the county and to the Sulphur Springs area.

Reser gave his State of the City address which included a look back on things the city accomplished in the past year.

He touts the completion of the Schines Art Park, the city’s designation as a Tree City, USA and the Bratwurst Festival‘s 50th celebration as successes of the past year.

In looking ahead for 2018, Reser said, “We will see the start of the very long-awaited Plymouth Street reconstruction project and the repaving of North Sandusky Avenue to the city limits through a small city’s grant.

Carolyn Shireman and Joe Graham of the Positive Seekers spoke during the meeting to garner support from council members and residents throughout the county for this year’s Red, White and Blues event.

Graham said, for the previous three years, the event has been held at Aumiller Park, but this year the group has joined forces with the Bucyrus Kiwanis Club to hold the event at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in conjunction with the annual fireworks display July 3.

Graham said this year’s event will feature live music, food and fun, as usual, with the addition of a petting zoo and pony rides.

“It is a homegrown festival in celebration of our area and our nation’s heritage,” Graham said.

Graham thanked the council members for always being supportive of the group’s endeavors.

More information may be found on The Positive Seekers’ Facebook page.

Local resident and business owner Kurt Fankhauser pointed out to council that a recent change in internet service is costing the city $24,000, the same amount that was needed for the city to stay in the Tree City program.

Along with the waterline legislation, council also approved seven other pieces including:

  • The contract for the Plymouth Street railroad crossing and the appropriation for the Plymouth Street railroad crossing repairs.
  • CHIP grant in conjunction with Galion and Crawford County.
  • The 2018 mill-and-pave project.
  • Bridge repair on Route 30 in 2023 through the Ohio Department of Transportation.
  • The East Mansfield/Whetstone Street storm improvement bid.

The next council meeting is March 6 at 7 p.m. in council chambers at Bucyrus City Hall.