BUCYRUS — North Sandusky Avenue residents will be able to keep their parking spaces after Mayor Jeff Reser announced to Bucyrus City Council members that he is not moving forward with plans for bicycle lanes in that area of the city.

In a letter to council that was read by Council Clerk Todd Hill during the regular meeting Tuesday evening, Reser said it will be better for the city’s administration to look into alternative routes for a bike/walk path as funds become available.

“ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) is proceeding with the North Sandusky Avenue project with the parking remaining on North Sandusky Avenue and no bike lanes,” Reser said.

Reser said several comments were received from city residents and all were opposed to bike lanes being created on North Sandusky Avenue except one.

In his fifth State of the City address, Reser said it has been an honor to lead his hometown for the past five years.

“We have had many challenges that were facing us, and we met those challenges head on with our ultimate goal being to prepare Bucyrus for a prosperous future,” Reser said.

Reser mentioned several issues the city has faced in his address, including the opening of the new water treatment plant, budget issues and the transparency of the city’s finances through the Ohio Checkbook online site.

“I believe in total transparency and you can see our checkbook spending on OhioCheckbook.com,” he said.

Also, during the meeting, Bucyrus Fire Chief Jay Keller gave the department’s annual report to council which included that the department currently has 12 firefighters on staff with the goal of adding three more to bring the total to the allotted amount of 15.

Council passed ordinances for the Ohio Fire Code update and updates to the billet and employee manpower.

A resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for, accept and enter into a water pollution control loan fund was kept to a first reading after council member Dan Wirebaugh voted no on the issue and two other members, Monica Sack and Kevin Myers, were absent from the meeting. A two-thirds vote was needed to be able to pass the resolution.

“The mayor said in his address that the city’s revenue is remaining flat so why would we want to borrow more money that we have to pay back,” Wirebaugh asked.

Reser said the loan is a zero-percent interest loan and is needed to expedite the storm/sewer separation project that is ongoing during the next several years.

Council member Mark Makeever read a letter from Bucyrus resident Jerry Henak about a dilapidated garage near his home that is posing a danger to his property and others in the area.

Henak said in his letter that the garage is condemned yet he has been putting up with it for the past five years.

City law director Rob Ratliff said the issue has made its way to court once and will be heading there again as the property owner has not complied with the court.

Council has its next joint committee meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. The next regular council meeting is March 19 at 7 p.m.