By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
It appears many city officials in Bucyrus already have their eyes on the end of 2015. At least it seemed that way at Monday’s special City Council meeting.
There was also a special Finance Committee meeting.
During the Finance Committee meeting, Auditor Joyce Schifer outlined changes to the appropriations that would need to be made to see the city successfully to the end of the year. Additional funds in the following amounts were awarded: $3,500 to Personal Services for the Police Department; $3,400 for Personal Services to City Council; $15,000 to Personal Services for Safety Forces; $4,200 for the Access TV; $3,000 to Sewage Department Debt Service; all of these transfers were to come from the General Fund. A transfer was recommended from Labor and Lands to the Police Department of $63,000, and a transfer from General Government to the Mayor of $5,000.
Schifer explained that these transfers would be necessary to square up the funds in question for the upcoming year end. Expenditures are projected at the beginning of the year, and these changes are being made to make up for shortages in those projections. Schifer added that the large numbers involved with the Police Department are largely due to the fact that this is the first time in a long time that the city has had 21 officers on staff at once.
During legislation, all of the previous recommendations from the Finance Committee were passed on a final adoption reading. Also passed on a final adoption reading was an alley vacation of 140 feet extended west from McKinley Avenue and running to the current North South Alley.
Ordinance 227-2015, to authorize the Safety Service Director to bid on a land purchase, was pulled from the agenda prior to the meeting. Council elected to pull this ordinance from the agenda in an executive session prior to the regular meeting.
Also on the subject of alleys, Councilman Bill O’Rourke raised an issue he noticed while out and about one day. He stated that he had driven some alleys and noticed no stop signs in any direction at some of the intersections.
Police Chief Dave Koepke replied, “When you arrive at an intersection with no traffic device, you have to stop for lack of a device.”
O’Rourke still expressed some concern, questioning if this might be dangerous for drivers who are not familiar with Bucyrus. Safety Service Director Jeff Wagner promised to look into the issue.
During the Police Chief’s Report, Koepke invited citizens of Bucyrus to venture to the city website, and check out a survey posted there from the Police Department. The New Year is only 45 days away and the Police are looking at ways to improve services in the upcoming year. The chief encouraged the citizens to offer constructive criticism in an anonymous setting.
There will be a special finance committee meeting at 5 p.m. on Nov 19, in Council Chambers, to discuss the impact of the new income tax legislation coming from Columbus.
Support and encouragement rang in from many corners for the recovering Fire Chief, Jay Keller. Council President Sis Love stated, “He’s healing, he’s getting better every day.”
Mayor Jeff Reser offered his, and the city’s, solidarity with the people of Paris after the horrific attacks there Friday night.
“Last week’s tragedy in Paris shows us how important it is to have a strong and vigilant military and our prayers are with the Citizens of France. All city flags have been lowered to half-staff until Thursday.”