By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
After years of playing somewhat nice, the City of Bucyrus decided to finally play hardball with Randy Strauch.
Law Director Rob Ratliff announced during Tuesday’s Bucyrus City Council meeting that Strauch, who was Crawford County engineer in the late 1970s, now has the title of Bucyrus’ Most Wanted.
“We’ve had these property maintenance issues over at 930 (and) 934 Rogers St. that predate me,” said Ratliff, who took the law director’s office in 2013. “It’s been 2009, at least. Those houses are a blight on a really nice neighborhood. It impacts the kids that grow up there, the families that grow up there.”
Ratliff said Strauch has past-due assessments totaling around $10,000 on the properties, money that would go to the schools.
“It’s time that that comes to an end,” Ratliff stated. “Quit impacting those families with such negative energies, which those houses are. It’s crazy.”
Summonses have been issued for violations in the past, along with certified letters, snail mail, and emails to multiple addresses. The city has also attempted to reach out through mutual friends to contact Strauch.
“No response,” Ratliff said. “The next step has got to be a warrant.”
Ratliff summed up the situation better during the council meeting: “Mr. Strauch, simply put: quit hiding.”
According to the information Ratliff has been able to obtain, Strauch splits time between a residence near Findlay, the upper peninsula of Michigan, and Florida.
Strauch also owned the former Schines Theatre before Bucyrus Theatre, Inc. acquired it from him with the intent to restore it.