By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Annexation isn’t always the easiest solution. The question of annexation is brought up regularly at the Bucyrus City Council meetings and, even with the absence of Council President Sis Love, the question was brought to the forefront again Tuesday night.
When questioned, Law Director Rob Ratliff responded that he recently attended a Whetstone Township meeting and summed up the situation in a few words: the ball is in the township’s court.
Ratliff explained that Whetstone Township is currently reviewing the impact of annexation to its budget should businesses in that part of the township decide to become a part of the city of Bucyrus.
“That stretch of road is a significant portion of their budget,” Ratliff stated. He added that the township was aware of the few businesses that want to be a part of the city.
With another onset of severe cold weather, Service/Safety Director Jeff Wagner advised citizens to visit the city’s website for cold weather tips. The city dealt with numerous problems of busted pipes and other cold weather-related issues when the polar vortex swept in and, in order to prepare for another case of negative temperatures, Wagner said tips were available to avoid the unnecessary expense that come with those issues. Those tips can be found at http://www.cityofbucyrusoh.us/news.php#freezingPipes.
Wagner added that the Walnut Street Waterline Project was ahead of schedule and within budget. The street will be blacktopped in the spring.
Mayor Roger Moore announced that Phyllis Crall had been appointed to the Crawford County General Health District to fill the unexpired term of Susan Maynard. George Fischer and Howard Logan were also reappointed to the Airport Commission.
Council passed four pieces of legislation during Tuesday night’s meeting, which included appropriations, transfers, and amending an ordinance to correct a fund name.
A special Finance Committee meeting had been scheduled ahead of the regular Bucyrus City Council meeting. The committee met to create contractual service line items within the Service Director category and within the Maintenance/Utility Worker Category. Auditor Joyce Schifer said the lines had been created last year but, while preparing the budget, they did not get transferred over.
“It was just an oversight and we have to fix it,” she stated.
The Finance Committee sought legislation for the request. Council passed that ordinance during its meeting.