BUCYRUS — Landlords being held responsible for tenants’ water bills was one of several topics discussed during the Bucyrus City Council Joint Committee meeting Thursday evening.
Council member Kevin Myers said it is unfair landlords are stuck paying tenants’ water bills after they move out of the property owned by the landlord.
“We need to come up with a better way to do it,” Myers said.
Council member James Mee, who is also a landlord, said it puts a hardship on landlords when a tenant owes a $400 or $500 bill.
“I have had to pay those then go after the tenant for the money,” Mee said. “Why can’t the city go after the tenant for the money owed on their water bill?”
Law Director Rob Ratliff said council may change the current policy.
Bruce Truka, chair of the service committee that is considering the possible changes, said Mike Kalb, who leads the water department, may check into the different ways the billing system may be set up. It was also suggested that council clerk Todd Hill check with other cities to determine how they handle delinquent water bills.
The issue was tabled while more research is conducted and will be discussed at the next service committee meeting in June.
Also during the meeting, the platting committee discussed floodplain regulations.
Ratliff said there were issues with the concession stand at the baseball field at Aumiller Park that is constructed in a floodplain and must meet guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Flood Insurance Program.
“FEMA suggested we modernize our floodplain regulations per ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resource),” Ratliff said. “I am requesting council to create draft flood protection elevation to base flood elevation for now for non-residential structures. It needs to be approved at the next council meeting for it to be presented to ODNR for approval.”
Ratliff said a proposal for a variance for the concession stand is in the works to be approved by FEMA. He said the floodplain regulations for the city have not been updated in several years and need to be revised.
“It is important that we fix the current issue now for ODNR to approve then work on the rest so we can have the plan approved for the concession stand,” Ratliff said.
The requested changes for non-residential structures were approved for legislation to be voted on at the next regular council meeting.
Ratliff said the flood review panel also needs to meet and has not done so in a long time. Mark Makeever volunteered to represent council on the panel.
The finance committee also approved for legislation an appropriation of $ 73,082.18 to the debt retirement line of the sewage disposal fund.
Vacant buildings were also on the agenda for the evening.
Makeever mentioned vacant homes, the old swan building and the former Ponderosa building that need to be addressed.
“We need to do something because they are a safety hazard,” Makeever said.
The issue will be discussed in more detail at a future meeting. Council’s next meeting is June 2 at 7 p.m.