BUCYRUS—New details are emerging around the sudden resignation of Bucyrus City Council President Kurt Fankhauser.
Fankhauser abruptly resigned early Friday morning. In his brief statement, Fankhauser said his resignation was effective immediately. Fankhauser told CCN he would have no comments for the media.
Former Council Clerk Todd Hill visited City Hall on Wednesday to meet with some administration officials and pick up personal belongings he left after his resignation on April 21st.
According to Hill, his brief visit to Bucyrus included lunch at a local restaurant. Hill said he was happy to meet the current clerk Rebecca Warren. Hill said he regretted he was unable to help Warren in her new position due to the nature of his departure. Hill said he believes Warren is competent and will do a good job for Bucyrus.
Hill told Crawford County Now that as his party left city hall, Fankhauser followed them to the restaurant where there was a brief encounter inside.
When asked for a comment, Hill provided this via email:
“I can only assume that Mr. Fankhauser’s resignation is intended to serve as the impetus for the local Republican committee to appoint a replacement to finish out his term as City Council President. Jenny Vermillion is running for that seat in November as a Republican after having run against Mayor Jeff Reser for his office previously. Mr. Fankhauser has an unhealthy fixation on humiliating Mr. Reser whenever possible, and I can only assume he figures Ms. Vermillion’s appointment as Council President will somehow do so.
“I personally know Ms. Vermillion from her time as a Crawford County Commissioner, and Steve Pifer, the Democratic candidate for Council President, from his time on Bucyrus City Council, while I know many who support the independent candidate, Brian Seybert. I’ve no doubt that any one of those three would do just fine in that office and work to restore the dignity and order that Mr. Fankhauser did his best to destroy. The only really important thing here, from my perspective, is that Mr. Fankhauser has left the building.”
“As for myself, I’ve been appointed the administrative assistant to the Mayor of Mount Vernon, as well as Public Information Officer and City Council Clerk for that city, which is much closer to my home than Bucyrus. I enjoyed almost all of my nearly seven years in Bucyrus, first at the local newspaper and then at City Hall.”
— Todd Hill
Crawford County Now reached out to Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser, who offered no comment on the incident. Crawford County Now will continue to follow any developments.