By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
BUCYRUS — Water line expansion was the topic of two meetings on Thursday as city officials attempt to take over the county’s sewer district.
According to city law director Rob Ratliff, county officials seemed favorable to the change in ownership during a meeting Thursday morning with the county commissioners and prosecutor.
“It does not seem they are reluctant,” said Ratliff said Thursday evening during the Bucyrus City Council Joint Regular Committee meetings.
Council member Kevin Myers he is under impression that Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall will draft the legislation.
A resolution was approved by Bucyrus City Council in March 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.
Ratliff said the main issue at the meeting with the county seemed to be a county resident that is under the impression that the city wants to annex county residences that opt to receive city water services. Ratliff said that is not the case and he will be issuing a press release about the issue within the next few days.
Two more meetings were scheduled for the finance committee and the entire council to consider a bond anticipation note for park improvements after Dan Wirebaugh raised some questions about a discrepancy in figures from a December budget meeting and the current figures.
“No one is here tonight from the city administration to find out why there is a difference,” Wirebaugh said. “The figures have changed to the tune of about $26,000 from the budget in December and I wanted to ask the administration about it.”
The park improvements include much-needed repairs to the Aumiller Park Pool. The pool will open on May 26 but will close one week early, after the Bratwurst Festival in August, for the repairs to be completed.
The Economic Development Committee heard a presentation from consultant Laura Falcone regarding the update of the city’s Community Reinvestment Area (CRA). The committee will consider several options and make a decision at a later date.
Legislation was approved to be brought before the entire council for a vote regarding multi-family housing in the R-3 district, a road salt contract with ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation), Internet auctions for this year and various appropriations requested by city auditor Joyce Schifer.