By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Congress may not be able to agree on anything but, when it comes to local government, you can count on the Bucyrus City Council to agree wholeheartedly on Issue 1.
Just before Council adjourned from its meeting Tuesday night, Councilman John Walker took the opportunity to throw in his support for Issue 1, which is a one-half percent levy increase on income for the purpose of the safety forces only. He made sure that, whether or not the Council members in attendance made it through election night unscathed, they still had a responsibility to vote.
“We have an issue on the ballot . . . which will put our police and fire back in shape and back on the streets,” Walker stated. “We need to put our people back to work.”
Walker noted that citizens may currently face a waiting period for help to arrive due to the reduced forces.
“Our police and fire are the heart of our community,” Walker said. “They’ve earned it; they deserve it and frankly we deserve the protection too.”
Sean Cassaro tried one more time to get Council to change its stance on a fender-bender issue. Cassaro, who is the Engineering Technician for the city, had his vehicle damage by another city employee on Aug. 10 when that employee backed into Cassaro’s personal vehicle while in the city’s parking lot. Cassaro has brought the issue before Council before to have them address the issue.
“I think it’s misinterpreted just a little bit,” Cassaro said, referring to the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), which does not allow for the city to pay for the damages. “I’ve worked here 16 years. I’m not asking for a new truck, I just want my fender fixed.”
That fender comes with a price tag of nearly $3,000.
Some Council members sympathize with Cassaro’s predicament but the fact of the matter is that the city’s hands are tied when it comes to resolving the issue in the manner Cassaro wants it resolved.
Law Director Rob Ratliff told Cassaro that they are simply following what the ORC decrees in this type of incident. The claim for the incident has already been filed.
“I’m sorry it’s not acceptable to you, it’s just what the state law is,” Ratliff said.
Councilman Bill O’Rourke has argued on behalf of Cassaro all along but even he admitted Tuesday night that there was not much more the city could do. “We’ve stated it’s not right,” said O’Rourke. “I just don’t know what else can be done.”
Council President Sis Love said Cassaro has already been given the proper form to file at no cost to him, which he needs to file with his insurance company. She adamantly stated that he would not be paying anything to get his vehicle fixed.
Council unanimously voted to approve a proposal that would establish a batting cage at Aumiller Park. The proposal had been presented to the Public Lands and Building Committee last week. The batting cage, which is being funded by the Timken Foundation, the Community Foundation for Crawford County, and the Shunk Foundation, will be built behind the concession stand at the upper baseball and softball fields. The project will also include new fencing at the softball and baseball fields as well as new catcher equipment, batting helmets, and scoreboards.
Council passed four pieces of legislation Tuesday night. Ordinance 33-2013 appropriated $2,822 to the Police Department Category for repair of the K9 vehicle. Ordinance 34-2013 amended the manpower ordinance for the casual pool secretary wage per hour. Resolution 224-2013 authorized the Service/Safety Director to apply for Ohio Public Works Commission funding for the North Sandusky Avenue waterline project. Resolution 225-2013 accepted the amounts and rates determined by the Budget Commission, authorized the necessary tax levies, and certified them to the county auditor.
The city will begin curbside leaf pick-up during the week of Oct. 27. Leaves that have been raked between the street and the sidewalk will be picked up on a weekly basis. Residents also have the option of taking the leaves to the compost site.
Spooktacular will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27 in front of the Bucyrus Fire Department.
There will be a public meeting for residents and property owners on Walnut Street to discuss the Walnut Street waterline project. That meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 in Council Chambers of Bucyrus City Hall.
The Santa Parade will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. Contact Carol Ann Smith for more information at 419-562-6159.