BUCYRUS—Several letters were submitted to the Bucyrus City Council and read by Council Clerk Todd Hill during the regular council meeting on Tuesday evening.
Former Bucyrus resident Karen Watson submitted a letter regarding the lack of mask-wearing by Portsmouth Ambulance personnel when they transported her family member on two occasions in June.
“We are in a global pandemic with COVID 19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided very clear guidelines about the use of PPE and the implementation of Universal Source Control measures to be taken by EMS personnel,” Watson said in her letter to council.
She cited the CDC’s rules governing EMS personnel that requires them to wear masks while caring or transporting all patients.
She said she reported the incident to the Crawford County Health Department, the Ohio Department of Health, and Portsmouth Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. Compliance Department.
“I left a message for the Mayor of Bucyrus and the Bucyrus Service-Safety Director, Jeff Wagner. Mr. Wagner returned my call, stating my name and number would be given to Kurt Fankhauser, City Council President and Kevin Myers, Health and Safety Committee Chair. I spoke with both Mr. Fankhauser and Mr. Myers and voiced my concerns,” said Watson.
She said as the contract for this ambulance service is nearing its end, she asks that Bucyrus City Council members and city leaders do their research in order to secure safe and reliable medical emergency services for the citizens of this community.
“While I do not reside in Bucyrus, I have family members and many friends who do. Therefore, I too am impacted by the decisions made by City Council and other elected officials. The citizens of this community deserve quality care from people who will adhere to the medical guidelines to keep everyone safe,” said Watson. “To the citizens of Bucyrus – Voice your concerns and opinions! If you see something, say something! Council members and elected officials need to hear from you.”
The council voted unanimously to submit a letter to the Central Joint Ambulance Committee requesting an explanation to the lack of mask-wearing by its EMTs and paramedics.
Candy Yocum, who resigned her position on council two weeks ago, had submitted a letter at that time citing the lack of mask-wearing and proper social distancing that is not being followed to help lessen the chances of spreading COVID-19 at council meetings. In part it reads:
“I don’t feel comfortable working for Bucyrus City Council during a worldwide pandemic. I do not agree with how it is being handled. I in no way want to be held accountable for Bucyrus City Council’s actions during this time. I am resigning from being a Bucyrus City Council Member. I hope I am wrong but can’t handle the burden I feel I should carry if I am not,” Yocum said. “Since I have made my stance on this known, I have had community members voice that they are unable to be heard as of now on local issues because they do not feel safe going to City Council meetings. I know that there are options to change this and will work to see that they are pursued.”
In a letter from Katherine Skalak Goeppner of the Floodplain Management Program, the city’s plan to remedy an issue with the concession stand near the baseball field at Aumiller Park has been approved.
Chris Gasuras, owner of the Little Athens Greek Restaurant, submitted a letter on behalf of himself and other businesses located in his block, requesting the city unblock an alley behind his business in the 300 block of North Sandusky Avenue.
“You have shut down a local roadway and landlocked two businesses that have over 300 plus cars and delivery trucks per day coming through our lot that now have no point of exit. It has caused major traffic problems from Smokey’s to delivery trucks that have to blind-side back onto St. Rt. 4,” Gasuras said.
He said the alley was blocked off after a vehicle struck the Hometown Garage at the north end of the alley and the owner complained to the city that the alley needs to be widened. He pointed out that the alley has been used by cars and trucks for decades without any issues. He suggests that the city puts in wrong-way signs at the north end of the alley along with a left-turn only sign to alleviate the issues for the mechanic who owns the building and open the alley back up.
In city service safety director Jeff Wagner’s report, read by Mayor Jeff Reser, he stated that the issue is being handled.
“We hope to have the alley at Kroger Fuel Center reopened this week. We are putting in three steel, concrete-filled posts and no-thru-truck signs to address issues of trucks damaging adjacent property,” said Wagner.
Wagner also said in his report that a broken valve pipe at the Aumiller Park Pool will be fixed this week and the pool will open back up.
“The new flange that was defective that gave out over the weekend at the pool should have arrived today or will arrive tomorrow. It will be installed as soon as possible so we can reopen,” said Wagner.
Legislation to change zoning in the Hopley Avenue area was held to a second reading and no other legislation was passed during the meeting.
The council will hold their joint committee meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers and the next council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Aug. 4.