By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
If there are any changes coming to the solid waste and sewer rates, it won’t be happening this year.
The Bucyrus City Service Committee met Monday evening to discuss any possible changes to the city’s sewer rates and solid waste fees. After reviewing the expenditures and revenues for both funds, it was decided that the committee would not take any action – at least for this year.
The solid waste fund currently has a cash balance of roughly $807,000 and sits at 76.5 percent for its expenditures year-to-date, below the city’s target for 2014. The fund could have a possible carryover of $130,000. Solid waste rates had been set in 1995 and then saw raises in 1997, 2002, 2004, and 2005.
The sewer fund is currently sitting at 76.5 percent of expenditures year-to-date, though Auditor Joyce Schifer noted the city still had to do payroll for the month. She added that there will also be big expenditures coming up in December, including $211,719.61 for OWDA loans on previous improvements to the water treatment plant. Recent raises in the city’s sewer rates were seen in 1998, 2002, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
“I see no increase at this point,” state committee member John Walker.
The rates and fees will be reviewed again after the first of the year in order to determine if there needs to be raises.
The Service Committee also discussed the Sewer Replacement Fund, in which $15,000 is placed every year. Schifer said it currently has a balance of $22,000 due to the fact that it can be used for purchases without authorization from the city council.
Walker believed the fund should be untouchable unless purchases are approved by council.
An ad-hoc committee formed to discuss signage in the city also met Monday evening. The committee consists of Bucyrus City Council members Wanda Sharrock and Richard Rockwell, Council President Sis Love, City Zoning Administrator John Rostash, City Law Director Rob Ratliff, Lee Plymale, Dave Roberts, Nate Roshon, and Michael Bear.
Sharrock was voted chairperson for the committee.
The city currently has many diverse areas in town and, after Bear brought up issues concerning political signs and free speech at a council meeting, it was decided that a committee needed to be formed to review and update the city’s ordinance on signage.
Roshon, after reviewing Section 1191 of the Bucyrus Codified Ordinance, said he was surprised at how flexible and user-friendly Bucyrus’ sign ordinance was compared to Ashland.
The committee members will be reviewing the city’s signage ordinance and signs that can be found around town. The next meeting has been set for 6 p.m. on Dec. 3.