BUCYRUS — An issue with some residents’ water bills was addressed during a regular Bucyrus City Council meeting Tuesday evening.

Mayor Jeff Reser gave the report for city service-safety director Jeff Wagner, who did not attend the meeting.

“To all water customers with a billing date of March 14, 2019, there is an error with the due date that is printed on the bill,” Reser said. “The due date is April 5, 2019, NOT the March 20 date as printed on the bill. We are sorry for the confusion.”

Prior to the meeting, a finance committee meeting occurred to address the issue of whether a resolution should be approved for Reser to apply for a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for the planning, design and construction of sanitary-storm sewers.

Committee and council member Dan Wirebaugh said a resolution previously had been passed for the $4 million loan. Auditor Joyce Schifer explained a new resolution must be passed to apply for the rest of the loan as only $70,000 had been used for the planning of the project.

Reser said this type of loan is a zero-percent loan.

“We need this money to fund the storm water-sewer separation project that is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” Reser said.

Wirebaugh said he is concerned sewer rates will once again increase for residents.

Reser said the rates will have to be increased to as much as $70 per month if the city does not utilize the zero-percent loan.

“For every $1 million we borrow, it will cost each resident about 50 cents per month,” Reser said.

The finance committee approved the resolution to go before council for a vote. Council approved the resolution with Wirebaugh being the only “no” vote on the issue.

Other legislation approved by council included appropriations for the police department to use money that was donated for Safety Town and for the fire department to use a $50,000 grant to purchase new radios.

Gary Frankhouse of the Crawford Partnership gave an overview to council about several awards and magazine features that have been given to the partnership recently for its work in bringing jobs to the area.

The next joint committee meeting is Thursday at 6 p.m. and council’s next meeting is April 2 at 7 p.m.