By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

A familiar face rejoined the Bucyrus City Council Tuesday night.

Mayor Jeff Reser swore in Dan Ross as an at-large Bucyrus City Council member, filling the seat that was vacated by Wanda Sharrock on April 30. The Crawford County Democratic Party appointed Ross to the position on May 11.

Ross has long been a city servant, spending time as mayor, fire chief, and a firefighter. He served as mayor until 2010 when he resigned over allegations that he no longer lived within the city limits.

“Mrs. Sharrock had to leave council for personal reasons,” Council President Sis Love explained to the audience. “We followed the process set forth by the Ohio Revised Code and Mr. Ross was the person that was nominated by the Democratic Committee for the City of Bucyrus.”

Standing in the middle of Council Chambers, Reser swore in Ross with a broad smile and a handshake.

“I’ve known you a long time,” Reser said to Ross, reminiscing on their time growing up as neighbors. “Are you ready to get sworn in?”

“It’s just like coming back home,” Ross responded.

After taking the oath, Ross made the rounds shaking his fellow council members’ hands.

“I’ve been here before, somewhere in different seats back here,” Ross said. “I just enjoy working for the community and hope we can have some more successful times together, make things better in the community.”

“We miss Wanda,” Reser acknowledged later in the meeting. “We thank her for all that she’s done for the city.”

The mayor also announced that the city was awarded a $500,000 grant through the Ohio Public Works Commission, which will be used for interest costs during construction of the new water treatment plant. The grant will save the city nearly $30,000 per year and roughly $600,000 over the course of the 20-year amortization of the loan.

Reser noted that the grant, in addition to favorable interest rates and lower-than-expected construction costs, will save citizens an estimated $10,000,000 over the original expected cost of the plant.

Clay Korner, who owns the property at 510 N. Sandusky Ave. with his brother, once again took Reser and Law Director Rob Ratliff to task over how the city has handled the issue of eminent domain. Korner came prepared with a timeline of events and cornered the pair on committing what he termed were “reckless actions,” including evaluating his property after approaching him with an offer and saying Ratliff “deliberately skips” the Law Director’s report at a February council meeting.

“As a taxpaying citizen, I cannot and I will not accept anything but the very best from our elected officials,” Korner concluded.

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Council approved two pieces of legislation that vacated alleys at Hopley Avenue and Whetstone Street.

The joint committee meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on May 18.