BUCYRUS―During the Bucyrus City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mayor Jeff Reser said that in spite of seven inches of rain that has fallen in the city so far this month, work has been progressing on the Aumiller Park Pool.
“Rebar is being placed in the bottom of the pool today (Tuesday) and concrete will be poured as soon as the rebar is inspected by the State of Ohio Board of Health,” Reser said. “We will be using fast-drying concrete so it will cure faster than regular concrete but we need four to five dry days in order to paint the bottom.”
Reser said the same goes for the tennis and pickleball courts.
“Richland Sealcoating was here on Monday to power-wash the courts and are getting ready to seal and paint but they also need an extended period of dry weather to finish the job,” Reser said. “Pray for good weather.”
Council member Dan Wirebaugh asked Reser if the city will have a 10-year warranty on the pool bottom.
“I would like to make sure we have that in place,” said Wirebaugh.
Wirebaugh also asked if pool passes will be changed to allow people to get their money’s worth once the pool is open this summer.
“We are looking at different options, such as a rebate for part of it, or being able to use them for part of next year. We won’t forget those folks,” said Reser.
Ethel Street resident Ray Thitoff wants to find out more information about a proposed homeless shelter on Whetstone Street near his home. He came to the meeting to inquire about the shelter that the local organization BORN is planning to open.
City law director Rob Ratliff said the shelter was discussed by the city’s Planning Commission recently but the Board of Zoning Appeals needs more information before they can make a decision on proposed variances to allow the shelter to open.
Council President Sis Love asked that Thitoff provide council with a contact phone number so he can be informed about the next meeting regarding the shelter.
Thitoff also said he hopes a resolution is found for the much-needed repairs to the Pines Reservoir.
“I fished there when I was a kid and still do. My grandpa fished there when he was a kid. I hope that whatever decision is made, the city does not sell it to a developer,” said Thitoff. “The city has known for 30 years that work needed to be done to it.”
Wirebaugh said that the issue is long-term plans were not put in place.
“There have been many administrations over that time but there was never an ongoing plan that all of them should have adhered to. We need to start doing that,” Wirebaugh said.
While city service safety director Jeff Wagner was absent from the council meeting, Reser read a report prepared by him.
He reminds residents that all non-emergency city offices will be closed on July 4 and 5 and garbage normally picked up on Thursdays will be picked up on Wednesday that week while residents with Friday garbage days should put their trash out on Monday, July 8 for pick up.
Reser said that the construction process for Burger King on East Mansfield Street will begin on August 1.
Council Committee meetings will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. and the next regular council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on July 2. The joint committee meeting for that week has been moved to 6 p.m. on July 8 due to the Fourth of July holiday.