BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A legal challenge aimed at halting the city’s purchase of new sanitation vehicles reached the Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday, as a judge weighs whether the city bypassed mandatory legislative procedures.
The taxpayer lawsuit centers on Resolution 229-2026, which authorizes the no-bid purchase of two McNeilus ZR Automated Side Loader garbage trucks. The plaintiffs allege the city violated Ohio Revised Code 731.17, a statute requiring municipal legislation to be read on three separate days before enactment.
According to court filings, the city council attempted to pass the resolution as “emergency” legislation during meetings on May 19, June 2, and June 16. When the measure failed to secure the necessary supermajority vote on June 16, the council immediately moved to adopt the resolution as standard, “non-emergency” legislation during that same session.
Retired Franklin County Judge Dale Crawford presided over the hearing following the voluntary recusal of Crawford County Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold.
During the proceedings, Judge Crawford noted the unusual nature of the legislative maneuver. After questioning City Law Director Brandon Gobrecht and the plaintiff, Greg White, the judge remarked that in his four decades of experience, he had never encountered a scenario where an ordinance failed as emergency legislation and was immediately repurposed as a non-emergency measure in the same meeting.
When neither legal team could produce direct case law to support their position, Judge Crawford ordered both sides to submit supplemental arguments by noon Friday. He reminded Mr. White that the burden of proof rests with him.
While the judge stopped short of issuing a formal court order, Judge Crawford requested that the city suspend all proceedings related to the equipment purchase until a final decision is reached. Judge Crawford indicated that if he grants a temporary restraining order, it would be brief, and he has promised a formal ruling on the matter by Monday.